MODERN 



^f 



ESTEETAHMEIT 






BY 



V 



EFFIE W. MERRIMAN. 



NEW YORK: 

F. M. LUPTON, PUBLISHER, 

23, 25 and 27 aty Hall Place. 



G^Vi 



^q5 5 



18394 



Copyright 1898, by F. M. Lupton. 
y;'y^ ..iS^\A\\ Rights Reserved. 




^OCOPItSRtCklVED. 






CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Preface 5 

Entertaining as an Art 7 

An Initial Entertainment 10 

A Modern Sewing Bee 16 

The Five Senses. 22 

A New Year Party. ...... 26 

An Enjoyable Musicale 29 

The Round Table 32 

Round Table, No. 2 37 

A Valentine Party. 43 

The Bohemians. 47 

A Book Party. •,.,- .<.;♦.-. . . 51-**^ 

A Geography Party. 57 

A Charade Party. ....... 61 

A Kindergarten for Adults 64 

An Evening with the Occult 71 

The Artists at Play 75 

A Spinning Party 80 

A Drawing Attraction 85 

A Hallowe'en Party 92 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Out-Door Entertainments 101 

Breakfasts 1^^ 

Luncheons. H^ 

Teas ^^^ 

Dinners 1^^ 

Wedding Anniversaries 124 

A Meeting of Celebrities 141 

Children's Entertainments: 

Entertaining Children 147 

An Old-Fashioned Party 149 

A Punch and Judy Party 155 

A Modern Battle 1^^ 

A Mystic Circle 1^^ 

A Shooting Match 1*^2 

A Peanut Party • 176 

A Christmas Entertainment 178 

A Hurly-Burly 182 



PREFACE. 



One can scarcely pick up a household journal with- 
out finding some suggestion for the entertainment of 
guests, and yet the demand is not supplied. 

"How can we entertain without dancing or cards?" 
is the ever recurring question of that large class of 
people who consider such amusements harmful, and, 
with this class in mind, the following pages have 
been written. 

The idea has been not to describe entirely new 
methods of amusement, but to group together such 
of the well-known games as seem to be suitable for 
that style of entertainment which must bear some 
significant title in order to be at all modern. Even 
the little children have learned that it is much finer 
to be invited to **A Peanut Party," or some other 
party with a name to it, than simply to receive an 
invitation to a party. 

Readers of this little book must not think, because 
of the frequent mention of prizes in the description 
of entertainments, that they are an absolute necessity 
to the success of the party, for such is not the case. 

5 



6 PREFACE. 

Each hostess must use her own judgment in these 
matters. The prize is mentioned because it meets 
with such favor in the modern entertainment that 
one cannot ignore it without seeming to be very- 
much behind the times. Personally, the writer does 
not believe in giving prizes of value in any game. 
Sometimes ridiculous toys that no one would strive 
for, except for fun, are offered in her home, but 
never anything that could possibly arouse a feeling 
of jealousy or envy. The tin medal is usually quite 
sufficient as a mark of distinction, but tastes differ, 
and many hostesses pride themselves on the prizes 
offered in their homes. The following entertain- 
ments will, therefore, afford them abundant oppor- 
tunity for gratifying this pride, and yet they will be 
found sufficiently entertaining in themselves to be 
carried out without further distinction to the vic- 
torious parties than may be accorded by a series of 
credit marks. 

That this little book may be of the greatest help 
to some anxious hostess is the sincere wish of 

The Author. 



ENTERTAINING AS AN ART. 



To be able to entertain one's friends acceptably is 
a most desirable accomplishment. Indeed, it is 
claimed by many that the successful entertainer is 
born, not made, and that the art of entertainment 
can never be acquired by one not born with the 
genius in that direction. Granting the truth of that 
statement, there may yet be many whose genius lies 
sleeping, and, who knows? Perhaps these words may 
arouse it into activity! 

There is certainly no gift that will bring one more 
friends than the art of entertainment. Life is hard 
to live, at the best, and he who can make his friends 
forget their burdens for even a little while confers a 
blessing upon them. Every one likes to go where the 
trials of everyday life are forgotten for a time, and 
so the rooms of the successful entertainer are sure 
to be crowded, and she thus becomes influential in 
many ways where a woman equally bright, but lack- 
ing the gift of entertainment, would never be known 
at all. If she throws this influence on the right side 
the amount of good she can do cannot be estimated. 

7 



8 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

A certain lady was once bemoaning the fact that 
she had no accomplishments, while nearly all her 
friends could play, or sing, or recite, or do something 
of the sort that would add to the enjoyment of others. 

"You blind little bat!" exclaimed one of the musi- 
cians, **don't you know you have a gift worth more 
than all ours put together? You can make us have so 
good a time at your house that an evening spent any- 
where else always seems dull." 

"But how?" queried the hostess; "I never do any- 
thing. I really don't entertain at all." 

"You certainly do not seem to exert yourself to any 
great extent," was the response, "and I haven't the 
least clue to the secret of your success." 

Yet the question had really been answered. The 
liostess did not seem to exert herself when entertain- 
ing her guests. This is the first secret of successful 
entertainment. As surely as she shows that she is 
worried and anxious, and that she is making a great 
effort to have everything pass off smoothly, just so 
sure will her entertainment be a failure. She must 
liave faith enough in her plans to really believe that 
fihe and all her guests are going to have the best kind 
of a time, and there will be no disappointment. 

Next, she must so lay her plans that there will be 
no awkward pauses during the first half hour. If 
■she can succeed in getting every one interested and 
animated at the start, she may take things easy dur- 
ing the remainder of the evening, resting in the as- 
surance that her guests will entertain themselves 
without knowing it. 



ENTERTAINING AS AN ART. 9 

The idea of a reception committee must first have 
been evolved from the brain of a born entertainer, 
who saw the wisdom of a brilliant beginning; but I 
do not believe that the members of that first com- 
mittee were placed in a long, formal row, like a line 
of Lombardy poplars swaying in the breeze. I be- 
lieve they were told to be seen everywhere, in every 
room, chatting with each late arrival until they have 
succeeded in finding some one else to chat with him, 
and so make awkwardness and stiffness quite impos- 
sible. 

It is a good plan, even while the invited guests are 
few in number, to have one or two trusted friends 
come a little early to help you receive. Talk over 
the plan of entertainment with them, and make it 
clear just what you want them to do. If you are 
quiet, choose assistants who are vivacious, for con- 
trasts are usually interesting, each unconsciously 
serving to heighten the charms of the other. 



AN INITIAL ENTERTAINMENT. 



For a certain party, about to be described, this was 
an especially appropriate title, for it happened to be 
the first one the young couple had given in their new 
home. The invitations were simple. They were writ- 
ten on handsome cards, and read as follows: 

Mr. and Mrs. Gray 

request the pleasure of your company at their 

"Initial Entertainment," 

Monday Elvening, March 20, 1898. 

A sister of the hostess and a brother of the host 
helped plan the entertainment and also helped to re- 
ceive the guests. 

When the guests were shown into the parlors, 
after having removed their wraps, each was handed 
a card, bearing the initials of some person present, 
who was to be their partner until after refreshments 
had been served. These cards were arranged before- 
hand, and the name of the guest for whom they 
were prepared was written on the opposite side. 
Under the initials of the partner to be sought were 
two lines of mystic letters, the first describing the 
partner, the second giving a command. 

10 



AN INITIAL ENTERTAINMENT. 11 

This will, perhaps, be more easily understood if we 
give the career of one couple. 

The gentleman, whose initials were W. C. G., was 
given a card bearing the initials, A. L. C, and un- 
derneath were the letters, *'latl, gilths, wonbr yese." 
Under these were the letters, **n a t u r i c." 

After puzzling over it a moment, the gentleman 
discovered that his partner, whose initials were A. 
L. C. was described as "tall, slight, brown eyes," and 
that, when he had found her, they must go to some 
curtain. After a short search among the guests he 
found her, and they compared cards. Hers bore his 
initials, and the description, "net or tay,'* which, 
being transposed, read "attorney," his profession. 
There was also the word "curtain" on her card, the 
letters being transposed differently from his. They 
then began wandering around the rooms searching 
for something about a curtain that would be of par- 
ticular interest to them. Finally, on a silken cur- 
tain before an empty fireplace, they found a slip of 
paper bearing the initials of both, and the following 

couplet: 

Fi ouy loudw ryou seetrc onkw, 
Uyo smut ot het reqbimlanu og. 

They bore this to a quiet corner and set themselves 
to the task of transposing it. When they had suc- 
ceeded, they read. 

If you would your secret know. 
You must to the lambrequin go. 

As there were several lambrequins in the rooms, 

they did not find the "secret" immediately, but they 

finally discovered another slip of paper addressed to 



N/^^ 



12 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

themselves, high up on a window lambrequin. It bore 

this inscription: 

Hateneb a natcrie balet, 

Ouy yam indf ti fi ro'yue labe. 

Transposed, it read: 

Beneath a certain table, 

You may find it if you're able. 

Then ensued a search beneath the various tables 

that was not as dignified as some performances are, 

but created much merriment, especially as there were 

other couples who were also interested in tables, and 

there was more than one paper pinned to each. At 

last they found their initials, followed by a couplet, 

which, when transposed, read: 

Somewhere, in an easy chair, 

Dear friends, you'll surely find it there. 

There were many easy chairs in the room, most of 
them occupied by couples trying to transpose some of 
their verses, but our friends did not hesitate to ask 
any one to stand for a moment while they examined 
their chair. The paper for which they were looking 
had been very ingeniously concealed in the folds of 
an upholstered chair, and when found proved to be 
quite a long verse. When transposed, it read as fol- 
lows: 

You've had a long search, but 'twill please you to know 
That the good all die young and to Heaven do go; 
And that you, my dear friends, have no mansions below. 

When they read this, they understood that it was 
the "secret" for which they had searched so dili- 
gently, because no further directions were given. 

Different sets of rhymes had been written for each 
couple, and there were some jolly hits in the "se- 



AN INITIAL ENTERTAINMENT. 13 

crets," more especially in those prepared for friends 
who were not abnormally sensitive. For some, there 
were simply apt quotations. This work had all been 
done some days before the party was given. As soon 
as the rhymes were prepared for one couple they were 
placed in an envelope bearing their names, and kept 
there until the day of the party, when they were re- 
moved and placed in the hiding places indicated in 
the rhymes. Some were hidden in rose jars, others 
behind pictures or between the leaves of a book of 
engravings. Every available place was made use of, 
and the guests were thus kept moving and interested. 

Care was used, in pairing off the couples, to give 
one who was particularly bright a partner who would 
be likely to need considerable assistance, and more 
rhymes were written and hidden away for the quicker 
witted couples than for those who thought more 
slowly. 

More than half the evening had passed before all 
the secrets had been discovered and deciphered. Then 
refreshments were served, and while partaking of the 
good things set before them, the guests compared se- 
crets. As a matter of course, the conversation was 
lively and enjoyable. 

The latter part of the evening was given to a form 
of amusement in which one's initials played a still 
more prominent part. 

The guests were arranged in a circle around the 
room. The husband's brother then seated himself in 
a revolving chair in the center of the circle, so that 
he could easily face any one in the room. 



14 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, '*I am here for 
criticism, advice and condemnation. I am not at ail 
sensitive, and its does not matter which I get, or in 
what measure; but the principal words of your reply- 
must begin with my initials, J. C. F." 

Then, turning to his sister, he asked: "Molly, what 
sort of a chap am I?" 

"Jolly, careful and frisky," she answered, promptly. 

He then turned to her right-hand companion and 
asked: "What sort of a wife ought I to have?'' 

"Jaunty, cunning and fast," was the somewhat dis- 
concerting reply. 

"What ought I to eat?" he asked the next person. 

"Jam, custard and fish," she made answer. 

"What profession am I best fitted for?" was asked 
the fourth person. 

"Janitor, carpenter or fisherman," was the reply. 

"I don't agree with you," he retorted, amid a gen- 
eral laugh. "Miss Wallace, what profession do you 
think I am best fitted for?" 

"Judge, commercial lawyer or financier," was the 
more flattering response. 

And so it went on, the questioner taking care to 
ask personal questions that called for nouns and ad- 
jectives, and the questioned always being careful to 
make use of his initials. No one was allowed to ask 
a question about any one except himself, and not 
more than three minutes were allowed for meditating 
on a reply. When a person failed to make any answer, 
he was obliged to change places with the questioner, 
and, giving his own initials, ask questions about him- 



AN INITIAL ENTERTAINMENT. 15 

self. He should always begin where the preceding 
questioner left off, in asking questions, so as to give 
every one present an opportunity to reply. 

This may be one of the most amusing of entertain- 
ments, and it can be given at little expense. To be 
sure, some work is required in getting up the cards, 
couplets, etc.; but that will be found a very enjoyable 
way in which to spend several evenings at home be- 
fore the night of the proposed party. 

The entertainment has this advantage over many 
others: It gives the guests something to do imme- 
diately upon their arrival, and keeps them moving 
about during the first part of the evening, when there 
is apt to be stiffness. 



A MODERN SEWING BEE. 



For the entertainment about to be described, the 
hostess accompanied the note of invitation with a 
request to the ladies to send to her house, before the 
day of the party, any scraps of silk or velvet or any 
artificial flowers for which she had no use that would 
help in the construction of a bonnet. The gentlemen 
were asked to send a cheap bonnet frame of their own 
selection. All were requested to bring needle, thim- 
ble and scissors, and most of the ladies brought 
dainty sewing aprons, which were donned upon ar- 
rival. 

All the millinery sent in was arranged on a large 
table in the center of the parlor. The hostess had 
purchased a few yards of paper cambric in brilliant 
shades, and also gay mosquito netting and other 
cheap material that would be needed. A small roll 
of heavy building paper lay beneath the table. 

As the guests entered the room, ladies were request- 
ed to draw a card from a bag, while the gentlemen 
drew one from a basket. Conundrums were written 
on the gentlemen's cards, and each was instructed 

16 



A MODERN SEWING BEE. 17 

that he must find the lady whose card held the an- 
swer to his conundrum, and make her a bonnet. 
Before selecting the materials, however, he must 
bring the lady before the judge to see if he has the 
ight answer. If not, he must try again. 

When all were paired off the gentlemen selected 
material from the table for a bonnet, such as they 
thought would suit their respective partners, while 
the ladies selected materials for a fine smoking cap 
for the gentleman who was so kind as to make themi 
a bonnet. 

An hour was allowed for work. More time cannot 
be given at any party, for it is usually quite late when 
the partners are found. A gentleman may ask advice 
of other gentlemen regarding the bonnet he is mak- 
ing, but he can get no assistance from a lady. The 
ladies may offer each other advice about the smoking 
caps, but not give more material help. The building 
paper referred to was intended for the foundations 
of the caps. 

When the material had been selected and all mem- 
bers of the party were busy at work, the conundrums 
were read aloud by the gentlemen, in turn, and all, 
except, of course, the partner who held the reply, tried 
to guess them. Failing to do so, the partner came to 
their assistance. 

A dish of bonbons was then set on the table, and 
the hostess explained that they were intended as an 
incentive to gossip, which was, as every one knew, a 
necessary adjunct to sewing bees; but all gossip must 
be in rhyme. If any one could succeed in composing 



18 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

a couplet introducing the name of some person pres- 
ent, he was allowed the privilege of selecting bonbons 
for himself and partner. Ladies, as well as gentle- 
men, took part in this, and a most amusing time 
resulted. 

After a time bonbons and everything else were for- 
gotten, for the caps and bonnets had reached a stage 
when frequent tyings-on had become necessary, and 
until it was time for refreshments to be served, con- 
fusion and hilarity reigned supreme. 

Many of the productions were comical in the ex- 
treme, but the parties for whom they had been made 
were obliged to put them on as soon as they were 
finished, and wear them the remainder of the eve- 
ning. 

Slips of paper bearing the questions: 

The most beautiful bonnet? 
The ugliest bonnet? 
The most stylish bonnet? 

wer3 distributed among the ladies, who wrote their 

three votes opposite the questions. Similar papers, 

referring to the caps, were given to the gentlemen, so 

that each might vote on the work of the opposite sex, 

and a rule was made that any one caught voting on 

the production he himself wore should put fifty cents 

into a box placed near the hostess, the amount thus 

gained being spent as should be thereafter decided. 

Had this rule not been made, each would, as a 
matter of course, have voted for the production that 
had been presented to himself. 

At the party referred to there was sufficient agree- 
ment among the ladies to permit the prizes being 



A MODERN SEWING BEE. 19 

awarded immediately, but the gentlemen did not 
agree so well; there was a tie. Then two gentlemen 
of the party, whose bonnets were not in dispute, were 
asked by the hostess to rise above their grievances 
and each plead for one of the bonnets. A judge and 
jury were appointed, and, as neither **lawyer" was 
allowed more than five minutes for presenting his 
case, the matter was settled by the time the refresh- 
ments were served. 

When there are no gentlemen who will undertake to 
act as lawyers, the matter must be decided by an- 
other vote. 

These proceedings took so much time that refresh- 
ments were served late, and the following festivities 
were made short in consequence: 

A long sheet of paper and a pencil were handed to 
each guest, for the gossip for which sewing circles 
were noted was to be continued. 

The hostess acted as leader, directing each one 
what to write. 

"First," she said, "write the name of some lady 
present, then fold the paper so that what you have 
written cannot be read and hand it to your right- 
hand neighbor." 

This was done, and when the exchange had been 
made, each one wrote a gentleman's name on the 
paper he then held. The papers were again passed on, 
and the hostess requested each to write where the 
couple met, and again passed them on. So it contin- 
ued, the paper being passed on as soon as a new sen- 
tence had been written upon it. 



20 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

After writing where they met, the lady's directions 
were as follows: "Tell what she looked like." "De- 
scribe him." "What did he say?" "What did she 
reply?" "What effect did that have on him?" "How 
did she feel about it, then?" "What did he do?" 
"What did she do?" "What was the result?" "What 
did the world say about it?" 

The exercises were concluded by each one writing 
the words, "As the poet (Cowper) says," the poet's 
name being chosen to suit the writer, of course; then 
the paper was passed along for the last time and a 
Quotation written by each. 

These stories were then gathered up and read by a 
lady and gentleman alternately. 

In selecting readers, be sure to get those who can 
read all sorts of writing easily. The "gossip" thus 
gotten up is very funny, and the ending, where quo- 
tations are given that have no possible relation to 
what has gone before, and credited to authors whose 
style is entirely different, always calls forth shouts 
of laughter. Occasionally it happens that an author's 
name is written by one party, and the one who fol- 
lows him chances to quote from his words, which is 
always a surprise, and sometimes seems to be even 
funnier than the hit-and-miss endings. 

As will be seen, each guest starts a story, and all 
write one answer to each question, but no one writes 
twice on the same story. There are as many stories 
to be read as there are persons present, and no one 
knows who finished any particular part of any of 
them. 



A MODERN SEWING BEE. 21 

To give a better idea of the results, one such story 

is copied below: 

Mrs. James Green 
and 
Mr. Willis Robinson 
met 
In a swamp in Illinois. 
She wore bloomers and rode a diamond frame. 
He was in a dress coat, and his hair and mustache were 
curled so tight he could not close either eyes or mouth. 

He said: "I will have you understand, once for all, that 
I shall bet on horse races whenever I like." 

She said: "Why, my dear, did you forget to bring the 
mutton and clothespins?" 
That made him crazy, and he had a fit of blind staggers. 
She wept and moaned, and declared she could never be 
comforted. 

Then he sold the farm and said they would both go to 
dancing-school. 
She ran off with a handsomer man. 
The result was, a prize fight. 

The world said that it always required two swallows to 
make a summer. 
As the poet Longfellow says: 

Jack and Jill went up the hill 

To get a pail of water. 
Jack fell down and broke his crown, 
And Jill came tumbling after. 



THE FIVE SENSES. 



This may be made one of the most amusing of 
entertainments, and at a slight expense. It has the 
first requisite of a really good entertainment, in that 
it provides amusement for the guests from the mo- 
ment of their arrival, and there are no awkward 
pauses while waiting for the remainder of the party. 

The notes of invitation may be as follows: 

Miss Eunice White, 

at Home, 

Friday Evening, February Third, 

Eighteen-hundred and Ninety-eight. 

An examination of the five senses will take place at 

nine. 

When the guests arrive, they should each be given 
a bunch of twenty tickets cut from cardboard and 
fastened together with a rubber band, and should 
be told how to use them. 

They are to remember that the words see, hear, 
smell, taste, feel, must always be used in the above- 
named order, and that other present or past forms of 
the verb are correct. 

One guest may say to the other, "I see you are 
looking well this evening." Then she should reply, 

22 



THE FIVE SENSES. 23 

using the word hear. If she neglects to do so, the 
first speaker demands one of her tickets, which she 
must give him. If he had spoken to her without using 
one of the five words, she could have demanded a 
ticket. The demand of the ticket is the only sentence 
which may be spoken, before refreshments are served, 
without the use of one of the above words in some 
form. 

The one who opens the conversation has the best 
of it, because he can select any of the words he 
chooses. 

Suppose he says, '*! heard you were at the concert 
last night.'* The reply must then contain some form 
of the word smell, as that comes next on the list. 
If he ask, "Are you feeling well this spring?" the 
reply is easy, for the word see is then used, and it 
may be as follows: "Cannot you see that I am?" 

One great advantage of this form of entertainment 
is that it is not conducive to lengthy tete-a-tetes. 
The guests are continually moving about, striking 
up conversations with different parties, from whom 
they wish to win a ticket, or trying to evade the 
questioner who is sure to win one of theirs. 

If a person has lost all his tickets, he is then 
obliged to go in debt to those who correct him, but 
he may still have the privilege of winning from 
others, and must, of course, pay the debts as rapidly 
as possible. Cards and pencils should be provided on 
which debit and credit accounts may be kept. 

Just before refreshments are served, the hostess 
calls the roll, and each guest must mention the num- 



524 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

ber of tickets he has in his possession. If all the 
numbers, when added, do not equal the number of 
guests multiplied by twenty, some one has counted 
wrong, and the roll must be called again. Then the 
debit and credit account is given. The person who 
has most tickets, including those due him, is entitled 
to first prize. A consolation prize is given to the one 
having the fewest tickets. 

After refreshments are served the tickets are again 
divided among the guests, who are requested to re- 
main seated. 

Then the hostess begins the next game by repeat- 
ing any sentence containing the w^ord see, in one of 
its forms, and that may be incorporated into a 
verse. 

Suppose she says, "I saw a monkey in a tree." The 
person at her right must add a line containing the 
word hear in the same tense as used in the first line, 
but his sentence need not necessarily be about the 
monkey. He can say, **I heard the song of a busy 
bee," or ''He heard the song of a busy bee." The 
latter would, of course, be the more appropriate. The 
party at his right would then say, "I smelled the fra- 
grance of boiling tea," or, referring to the monkey, 
** 'I smelled your honey,' shouted he." Then the line, 
**And tasted it, too, sir; that is me!" would be sure 
to bring down the house and make it most obligatory 
on the last rhymster to use the word felt in an appro- 
priate line. Should he add, **And felt the sting, dear 
sir, of thee," no one could criticise him. 

It is seldom, hov/ever, that one is fortunate enough 



THE FIVE SENSES. 25 

to have a company all of whom are bright enough to 
rhyme on one topic. Usually the rhymes are more 
like this: 

I saw a boy run down the road. 
I heard the sound of a falling load. 
I smelt the smell of a roasting toad. 
I tasted a rabbit in yonder abode. 
I felt the sting of a driver's goad. 

If a leader ends her sentence with a word to which 
four rhyming words cannot be found, she must then 
give a ticket to each of the four who follow her, and 
the person at the right leads off. It must be so ar- 
ranged that every one present has an opportunity to 
lead. 

A rhyming dictionary will be found almost a neces- 
sity. 

If a person whose turn it is to furnish a rhyme 
cannot do so, the next one at his right is given the 
opportunity. If he succeeds, the delinquent hands 
him one of her tickets. If he fails the next one to 
the right tries it, winning two tickets — or one from 
each of the delinquents. Sometimes a word will pass 
all along the line, giving a rich reward to the success- 
ful rhymster. If no one can furnish a rhyme, the 
leader must do so, or forfeit all her tickets, dividing 
them up as far as they will go, and considering her- 
self in debt to the others. Such division must always 
be made, beginning with the person at her right. If 
she succeeds she wins a ticket from all of the others. 

When every one present has led once the game is 
ended, and the person holding most tickets is 
crowned poet laureate, with or without appropriate 
ceremonies, as the hostess prefers. 



A NEW YEAR PARTY. 



The cards of invitation that were sent out for a 
New Year Party given at the opening of 1898 were 
exceedingly unique. Father Time, with his sickle, 
was engraved upon them, and from his mouth were 
the words, **Mr. and Mrs. Dickson request the pleas- 
ure of your company." On the blade of his sickle was 
the date of the party, and on an hour-glass near at 
hand were the words, in minutest characters, ''From 
nine until one A. M." 

As the guests entered the room gentlemen were re- 
quested to select a card from a basket at the right 
of the hostess, while the ladies selected one from a 
basket at the left. Each of these cards bore a date. 
A friend of the hostess was arrayed as a sort of "high 
priestess," all in white, and seated in a prominent 
place in one of the rooms, which v/as made still more 
prominent by glittering decorations of stars, moons, 
etc., sewed on black draperies. The guests were re- 
quested to show the cards they had drawn to this 
''high priestess" and ask for further instructions. 
She would take the card, refer to a large book that 

26 



A NEW YEAR PARTY. 27 

had been prepared beforehand, then say something 
like this: "The date on this card describes a lady 
who met with an annoying accident one day last 
week. Go find her. She is destined to be your part- 
ner for the evening." 

To one lady she said: "This is the date of a gentle- 
man who will soon come in search of you. He has a 
mole on his neck, and is inclined to flirt/' 

The book to which she referred was full of odd hits 
on the dilTerent dates chosen, and furnished much 
amusement. Only part of the information written 
under each name was read at first, but the questioner 
was allowed to return for further information later 
on in case he could not find his partner. 

As will be seen, it was a game of mock astrology. 
The date on each card was duplicated in the book, 
and the name of the person to whom it referred was 
written beneath it, with the list of happenings or 
characteristics that actually referred to him, and by 
which he was to be identified. 

When the guests had all found their partners, cards 
and pencils were passed around, and they were in- 
formed that it was time for them to make their New 
Year resolutions. Each wrote a resolution on a card; 
then the cards were gathered into a basket passed 
for the purpose and thoroughly shaken. The hostess 
then passed them around again, and each guest drew 
one without looking at it. 

From another basket each drew a card containing 
the name of one of the guests. All then took turns 
reading from their cards, first, that containing the 



28 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

name, then the resolution. There were many sur- 
prising combinations that afforded the company- 
great amusement. For instance, one gentleman 
chanced to draw his own name, which he was obliged 
to read aloud, with the resolution: *'I am quite deter- 
mined not to wear a bustle for the entire year, no 
matter what the fashion may be." Another gentle- 
man read from his cards the following: **Miss Alice 
Wells declares that she will not flirt with another fel- 
low's sweetheart for a year." 

Refreshments followed the writing of the resolu- 
tions. The dining-room and tables were trimmed in 
white and green to represent the frosts of the old 
year and the verdure of the new. The menu cards 
were dainty calendars that opened like little books, 
revealing the bill of fare. 

When the refreshments had been served the guests 
returned to the parlors, where during their absence 
arrangements for tableaux had been completed by help 
hired for the purpose. These tableaux had all been ar- 
ranged from the well-known poems on the New Year, 
and were exceedingly effective. While the tableau 
was shown, the portion of the chosen poem that it 
was intended to illustrate was read aloud by a pro- 
fessional elocutionist. Just as the clock struck 
twelve, the curtain was raised, showing an old man 
on a cot in the foreground, with four ladies dressed 
to represent the seasons weaping over him. A rosy- 
faced boy peeped through a door in the background, 
which stood slightly ajar. This tableau needed no 
explanation. 



AN ENJOYABLE MUSICALE. 



An enjoyable musicale was given not long since by 
a lady well known in the musical world for her skill 
as a harpist. A programme was made out and copied 
by a lady who does fancy lettering beautifully, and 
who was glad of the opportunity to earn a little pin 
money in that way. 

These programmes were enclosed with the invita- 
tions to the guests. 

The numbers were taken by friends of the hostess, 
and there were fine vocal selections as well as instru- 
mental, while an elocutionist added to the pleasure 
of the guests very considerably. Then there was a 
short but spirited one-act play, after which refresh- 
ments were served. 

As a matter of course, a majority of the company 
had been merely spectators during the first half of 
the evening, and so it was designed to give them 
more active parts during the remainder of it. 

Two baskets were passed among the guests while 
they sat at refreshments, from one of which the 
ladies drew each a card, the other being passed only 

29 



30 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

to gentlemen. Each was requested not to make 
known the inscription on his card. 

On each of the ladies' cards there was written a 
title of some song. On each gentleman's card there 
were the opening notes of a song. It then became the 
duty of each to match their cards. Some of the 
company could not read notes, and were obliged to 
coax a friend one side to assist them. 

When they had been properly matched, each couple 
was called behind a curtain that was arranged for 
the purpose, and so posed as to form a tableau sug- 
gesting the title of the song they represented. The 
others then guessed the titles. 

This part of the entertainment had been planned 
when the song titles were selected, and the hostess 
had made notes that would help in arranging the 
tableaux; for, while each couple was expected to 
furnish his own ideas as to the arrangement, it was 
known that suggestions would be necessary in some 
cases, or there might be delays that would spoil the 
evening. 

Cards were furnished the audience on which to 
write their guesses, and there was great fun at the 
end of the evening, when these cards were compared, 
and it was found how few had guessed correctly. A 
boquet of roses was given the one who had made the 
most correct guesses. 

There are few who cannot find enough persons 
among their friends to fill out a programme of suffi- 
cient length to fill up the first half of the evening. 
If you haven't musical friends you certainly have 



AN ENJOYABLE MUSIGALE. 31 

some who can take part in a play, and they will be 
more ready to lend their assistance when they know 
that the audience is to remain seated until the per- 
formance is over. But be careful not to make the 
programme too long, and be sure to provide amuse- 
ment for the latter part of the evening in which all 
of the guests may participate. 



THE ROUND TABLE. 



Members of the Round Table 

will meet with Mr. and Mrs. Jamison, on the evening of 

March 15, 1898, between the hours of eight and eleven. 

You are cordially invited to be present. 

The above invitation was sent to as many persons 
as could sit comfortably around a large round table 
that nearly filled the parlor of the Jamison home. A 
round top had been made of boards and covered with 
white oilcloth. It was supported by four small tables 
of uniform height. A large bowl of roses rested on a 
beautifully embroidered doily in the center, but with 
that exception the table was left perfectly bare. 

By half-past eight the guests had all arrived, and 
greetings had been exchanged; then they were seated 
around the table, ladies and gentlemen alternating. 

Four bits of swansdown were then given to parties 
seated at four quarters of the table, and when the 
hostess had counted three they were blown to the 
center of the table. It then became the duty of each 
one present to prevent those bits of swansdown from 
touching the table in front of himself. The hostess 
had previously prepared a list of the names of the 

32 



THE ROUND TABLE. 33 

guests, and each received a black mark when he 
failed to blow quickly enough or hard enough to pre- 
vent the swansdown from touching the table in front 
of him. Sometimes a bit would be blown toward him 
from opposite directions, making him appear quite 
apoplectic in his endeavors to waft them away, and, 
again, he would be laughing so heartily at the efforts 
of some one across the table that he would not notice 
the swansdown coming toward himself until too late 
to prevent it from touching the table. 

Half an hour devoted to this exercise proved to be 
sufficient to put the guests in a most unconventional 
frame of mind, and prepare them for what was to 
follow. 

A box was passed around, containing slips of paper, 
on each of which a dozen words were written. The 
guests each drew one of these slips, and were then 
told that they must write a story of George Wash- 
ington and the cherry tree, using all the words on the 
slip they had drawn. 

To illustrate: One lady found the words orange, 

catamount, Trilby, venerable, shocking, earthquake. 

Dr. Parkhurst, congress, asylum, razor, confessed and 

liver pad, on her slip, and when the time had 

elapsed in which the stories were to be written, she 

read as follows: 

"My dear George," said the beautiful Trilby, to young 
Washington one day, "I do so want an orange! Can you 
not get one for me?" 

Her appeal was not to be resisted by the gallant 'Wash- 
ington, it was in the days when the absence of railway 
trains made fruit scarce during- the greater part of the 
year, in parts of our country where it did not grow natur- 
ally, and the request had not been made during the orange 



34 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 



season. After going to every fruit store in vain, Wash- 
ington started for home, almost wishing an earthquake 
would interpose to relieve him of the necessity of appear- 
ing before the beloved Trilby without the orange. When 
nearly there he looked up, and— could it be? It was! It 
was! Heaven had sent help when most needed! There, 
in the branches of a cherry tree sat a venerable cata- 
mount, holding an orange between his paws. To procure 
a hatchet, chop down the cherry tree, and receive the 
orange was but the work of a few moments. To present 
it to Trilby required but little more time, and the youth- 
ful George felt that life was, indeed, worth living. But 
too often sorrow follows joy. Poison from the cata- 
mount's wisdom tooth had entered the orange and was 
swallowed by Trilb3\ As a consequence, she became in- 
sane and was sent to an asylum, where she cut her throat 
with a razor. The funeral sermon was preached by Dr. 
Parkhurst. A whipping was planned for George, when he 
confessed to cutting down the cherry tree, but was pre- 
vented by an act of Congress, which decreed, instead, 
that he should v/ear a liver pad the remainder of his life— 
a punishment so shocking that the world determined to 
forget it in thinking how nobly he had confessed to cut- 
ting down the cherry tree, when he might have lied 
about it. 

Prizes had been offered for the most ingenious 
story and also for the shortest one, containing all of 
the words chosen. The above story took the prize as 
being the most ingenious. The shortest was as fol- 
lows: 

The cantankerous, but sweetly gentle progenitor of our 
first President cautiously yet irritably questioned his 
tramp of a son as to what villain had wrecked the life of 
a cherry tree that no monometalist could have pur- 
chased save with blood. "Chastise me," said George, 
humbly. "I deserve it, and won't kick." 

The words on the slip of paper drawn by the author 
of the above production were chastise, kick, mono- 
metalist, wrecked, irritably, cantankerous, progeni- 
tor, sweetly, tramp, villain, blood and cautiously. 

The old-fashioned game of Crambo was next under- 
taken. Two slips of paper were handed to each 
player. On one he wrote a question; on the other 



THE ROUND TABLE. 35 

two nouns and two adjectives. These slips were then 
dropped into two baskets, those containing questions 
in one, the others in the second; then they were thor- 
oughly mixed, and every player drew a slip from 
each basket. He must then make a rhyme that would 
answer the question he had drawn and include the 
adjectives and nouns on the second slip. 

One player, who had drawn the question, "Why do 
rabbits eat grass?'* and the words, "Gum, dancer, 
hifalutin and elegant," produced the following: 

"Why do rabbits eat grass?" 

By gum! I pass. 
'Tis a question I cannot answer. 

You'll be told, I am sure, 

If you ask it of your 
Hifalutin yet elegant dancer. 

Souvenirs were awarded the best rhymes written 
by a lady and a gentleman, the matter being decided 
by vote. 

By this time the guests were mentally tired, and 
the hostess introduced a game requiring little thought 
by saying: "Mrs. Simpkins does not like tea. What 
does she like?" 

The guests then strove to reply, each in turn men- 
tioning some article of food the name of which did 
not call for the letter t. Bread, Coffee, cream, 
pickles, cake, chicken, etc., were allowable, but pota- 
toes, meat, turkey, toast, etc., could not be mentioned. 
The players were expected to reply promptly. If they 
could not, or if they made the mistake of mentioning 
a word containing the letter t, they were counted out. 
A souvenir was given the person who last mentioned 
an article of diet. To insure promptness the hostess 



36 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

tapped slowly six times on the table with a pencil. 
If the word was not pronounced at the sixth tap she 
called "next.** 

Refreshments were brought in and placed on the 
table while this last game was in progress. Should 
it need to be lengthened in order to give more time 
before serving refreshments, begin the game again 
by saying: "Mrs. Simpkins doesn't like peas," when 
the letter "p" must be omitted in selecting articles of 
diet. 

These games are frequently used as forfeit games. 
When that is the case the guests are simply told that 
Mrs. Simpkins does not like peas or tea, and a for- 
feit is demanded of any one who, not understanding 
the game, is so unfortunate as to use a word contain- 
ing the forbidden letters. It is funny to watch the 
puzzled expressions, for, of course, those who avoid 
the forfeit have no more idea how they managed to 
do so than the poor victims have of the reason of 
their failure. 

When one thinks of it, it would seem to be tiresome 
to remain quietly seated at a table for two hours and 
a half, but there are those who attended such an en- 
tertainment as this who declared that time passed so 
quickly that they could hardly believe that an hour 
had elapsed. 

No game is introduced after refreshments have 
been served, for it is usually after eleven o'clock, the 
hour stated in the invitation, and, after a little gen- 
eral conversation, the guests are expected to take 
their departure. 



ROUND TABLE No. 2. 



The preliminary arrangements for this party 
should be similar to those described in the preceding 
entertainment, the only difference being in the games 
selected. The round table made for the first occasion 
may thus do duty twice without one's guests com- 
plaining of a repetition that is tiresome. 

Guests should be seated so that ladies and gentle- 
men alternate. Paper and sharpened pencils must be 
furnished in abundance. 

A good introductory game calls for alphabet blocks. 
The letters may be painted or printed on squares of 
cardboard at little expense. A job printer will give 
you ten sheets of heavy cardboard, each containing 
the entire alphabet, for about a dollar. They are 
marked so as to be easily cut apart, forming inch 
squares. You should procure as many of these sheets 
as there are to be guests; then have extra ones con- 
taining the vowels, so that every complete alphabet 
shall contain four each of all the vowels. With these 
letters any number of interesting games can be 

37 



38 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

played, and they will stand considerable use, more 
especially if printed on black or colored cardboard. 

In the game in mind for our round table, all the 
letters are placed in a box and well mixed; then five, 
taken out at random, are given to each guest. He im- 
mediately proceeds to form a word, or part of a word 
as he can, placing the letters on the table before him. 
When the leader calls ''time" the letters not used are 
passed on to the left-hand neighbor, and each tries 
to find, in this new addition, something to complete 
the word already begun. 

Suppose the guest had the letters W C K R E 
given him at first. He sees that he can get the word 
**we" out of it at once, but he would only have two 
to his credit, and would be obliged to pass C K R 
over to his left-hand neighbor. A good player does 
not like to help his neighbor to many letters, and he 
does wish to get as long a word as possible, because 
he is credited with numbers corresponding to the let- 
ters in each finished word he calls to the secretary. 
He finally decides to try for the word "worker," and 
arranges his letters like this — '*w — rke — ." Then he 
has only to pass the letter c to his neighbor. The 
neighbor at his right sees his skeleton word, and tries 
to use such letters of his own as might fit into the 
blank spaces rather than pass them along; but of 
course he can only surmise what the word is to be 
when it is finished. Now, suppose he passes over an 
o and an r. The word is instantly completed and 
called out to the secretary, who writes the figure six 
after his name, because there are six letters in his 



ROUND TABLE NO. 2. 39 

word. But suppose the letters ASM had been passed 
over. He then changes his word, spelling ''marks" 
and "we," and is credited seven. That pleases him, 
because he has no letter left to pass to his neighbor. 

When the letters have been passed to the neighbor 
the second time, the box is again handed around, and 
five more given to each player. Sometimes a word is 
started and not finished until the box goes around 
the second time. 

One must judge for himself whether it is better to 
make a short word and be credited at once or try for 
a longer one and receive longer credits, but less in 
number. 

When the letters are all gone from the box, those 
yet unused should be passed from neighbor to neigh- 
bor until ail have discarded them; the game is then 
ended, and the figures after each name must be added. 
The one having the largest number is declared the 
winner, and may or may not receive a prize, as the 
hostess decides. 

In the next game, six letters are dealt each player, 
and the remainder are piled in the center of the table, 
face dov/nward. The players begin a word or com- 
plete one as they can. Instead of leaving blank spaces 
to be filled in afterward, as in the former game, they 
must complete the word in so far as that is possible. 
Suppose one player is dealt the letters R G Y M C O. 
He may conclude to place C O M on the table before 
him and hold the other three letters for later devel- 
opments. His left-hand neighbor may hold an E, be- 
sides the word he has on the table; if so, he adds it 



40 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

to the COM, making "come," and takes the word to 
himself, placing it below the word he had already 
started. In the meantime, the first player may have 
been able to add the Y he had reserved to the letters 
"brin'* which his right-hand neighbor had placed be- 
fore himself, and so takes them all, being a little 
better off than he had been before his letters were 
stolen. 

Each player strives to get a complete word, to 
which no letter can be added, according to the dic- 
tionary. The one who formed the word "come" was 
not safe, because letters can be added to form comely, 
comedian, comedy, comets, comestibles, etc. A player 
can only steal from his right-hand neighbor. 

Whenever a player succeeds in making a steal he 
draws one letter from the pile in the center of the 
table. When a player has been stolen from, he takes 
two letters from the center pile. 

When all the letters have been drawn from the 

center pile and each player has done as well as he 

can from those in his posession, the game is counted. 

Each player counts twenty-five for each complete 

word on the table before him, and ten for each letter 

in the words. For instance, suppose a player had 

these combinations before him: 

Catch 

Briny 

If 

Acid 

Com 

K, G, R, Z, Z. 

He would count one hundred for words and one 

hundred and sixty for letters, making two hundred 



ROUND TABLE NO. 2. 41 

and sixty in all. From this he must subtract eighty, 
for there are eight unused letters, counting the in- 
complete word, and so he can only be credited one 
hundred and eighty. 

These two games will be found very interesting 
and entertaining, and v/ill fill an evening, before re- 
freshments are served, very acceptably. 

When the refreshments have been cleared away — 
for they should have been brought to the round table 
— papers may be passed among the guests, each of 
whom writes his own name on the top of the sheet, 
then folds it over so as to conceal the name, and 
hands the paper to the hostess, who mixes them all 
together in a hat and allows each guest to draw one. 

"Now," says she, "you must write your own charac- 
teristics on the paper you have drawn and fold it 
again." 

Once more the papers are mixed and drawn, and 
then all write what sort of life he would best like to 
lead. 

After the third drawing each describes the sort of 
life he expects to lead. 

Of course the bits of personal history become very 
much mixed and correspondingly funny. On one oc- 
casion the following bit of history was read: 

My name is Clara Wallace. 

T have a quick temper, but a kind heart, and I smoke 
more than I should. 

I should like to marry a foreign nobleman and live in a 
palace in Engrland. 

I expect to live and die a bachelor, supported by the 
county. 

These papers are read aloud by the hostess, who 



42 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

must never allow the writing to be examined, "be- 
cause," as she may explain, ''being bits of personal 
history, she has no right to do so." 

Of course all will not write in earnest at first, but 
they'll soon see that there is more fun when they do. 

After the laugh occasioned by these ''autobiogra- 
phies," as they are called, the guests should be set 
to making as many words as possible from a given 
word in a certain length of time. "Conundrums" is 
a good one, and only ten minutes should be allowed. 
The one who makes most words is declared victor. 
In case of a tie three minutes more are allowed the 
contestants in which to add to their lists. 

The evening may then be nicely ended with "con- 
fessions." Long sheets of paper are again distributed, 
and each writes his name on the top of the sheet as 
in the game of "autobiographies," and folds it from 
view. The papers are mixed and distributed as be- 
fore, and each player writes a confession of some 
dark deed committed. They are mixed once more and 
each player writes what punishment he thinks he de- 
serves. 

The fun occasioned by these "confessions" usually 
sends the guests home in the jolliest possible mood. 



A VALENTINE PARTY. 



One may have more fun at a valentine party, if it 
is properly gotten up, than at any other form of en- 
tertainment given during the winter. 

Let your notes of invitation be quite elaborately 
symbolic of the day in the matter of decoration, 
making use of Cupid's hearts, arrows, birds and 
flowers as fancy dictates. If you are not artist enough 
for this, and do not wish to hire it done, cut hearts 
from cardboard, gild the edges and write the invita- 
tions upon them; then enclose them in plain envel- 
opes. 

Each guest is requested to bring three valentines — 
one comic one, addressed to himself; one pretty one 
for the St. Valentine grab-bag, and one that is origi- 
nal, written on plain paper, enclosed in a plain •en- 
velope, addressed to one of the guests, and dropped 
into a box prepared for the purpose. A hat-box, with 
a hole cut in the top, will do nicely. Set the box on 
a table in the hall, and have the guests drop the orig- 
inal valentines into it as they enter. 

The idea is to have no one know who wrote these 
43 



44 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

valentines. A list of the guests expected is sent with 
each invitation. In order that no one may be omit- 
ted, the hostess and one or two of her intimate 
friends should prepare one of these valentines for 
each guest. Tho box containing them is not opened 
until after the refreshments are served. Then the 
hostess seats herself at one end of the room, and, 
opening the box, takes out the valentines one by one. 
As she does so she reads the address aloud, and the 
owner is expected to come forward for the valentine 
and read it aloud before all the assembled guests. If 
that is pronounced an utter impossibility because of 
its nature, he or she must be prepared to sing a verse 
of a song, speak a piece or tell a story. 

The comic valentines are pinned on a sheet hung 
against a wall. The name of the one bringing it is 
v/rltten on the back, where it cannot be seen. The 
front bears a number. Each guest is given a card 
upon which he writes the number of the valentines 
and, opposite, the name of the person whom he thinks 
brought it. These cards are examined just before the 
refreshments are served, and the one making the 
most good guesses is given a prize. A consolation 
prize is given the one who makes the fewest guesses. 

When it is remembered that each one selects his 
own comic valentine, intending it as a "take-off" on 
himself, it will be seen how much fun may be had 
without any one being offended. These valentines 
should not be pinned to the sheet until all the guests 
have arrived; otherwise new additions will quickly 
be connected with late arrivals. If there is a large 



A VALENTINE PARTY. 45 

party it would be wise to have two sheets, so as to 
divide the crowd. A screen may be used to advan- 
tage, if the room is decorated for the occasion, and 
the sheet of valentines is likely to spoil the effect. 

The valentine grab-bag should be made of two 
sheets of pasteboard, cut heart-shaped and covered 
with flowered cretonne. The pretty valentines are 
put into this and carried around among the guests 
just before the party breaks up. Each one is expected 
to **grab" one, and the fun of comparing them forms 
the last feature of the occasion. No one knows, when 
bringing the valentine, who will carry it away; he 
may even grab the one he brought. 

It is a pretty idea to have this bag carried around 
by a little child dressed as **Cupid,'* although, of 
course, it is not a good plan for any child to be al- 
lowed to sit up so late. 

When the rooms are to be decorated, take care to 
have the decorations selected with special reference 
to the occasion, heart-shaped flower pieces and little 
Cupids swung from festoons of greenery being con- 
spicuous. 

The refreshments should also be as symbolic of the 
season as possible. Cut the sandwiches heart-shape. 
A tin cake-cutter can be obtained at a hardware store 
that will do nicely if the bread is cut in thin slices 
and the meat is minced. Ice cream cakes and bon- 
bons should be heart-shaped. 

To prevent stiffness during the early part of the 
evening, it is a good plan to have a valentine badge 
for each guest, on which half of an appropriate motto 



46 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

is printed. It should be of ribbon, and the lettering 
should be done in water colors. These badges should 
be in little silk bags, presided over by a young lady 
assistant. One bag contains badges for gentlemen, 
the other for ladies, and each guest should be re- 
quired to draw one upon entering the room. He must 
then find the person whose badge contains the other 
half of his motto, and it will be his duty to take her 
out to supper. Of course the earlier arrivals are 
liable not to have the other half of their motto drawn 
before the last guest puts in an appearance, But as 
they will find it necessary to question each newcomer, 
the company becomes animated from the start and 
everything passes off satisfactorily. 

Mottoes may be taken from any of the poets or they 
may be of home production, if preferred. For in- 
stance, a gentleman's badge might bear these words: 

I'm looking for a valentine 
Who'll give her love to me. 

He must then search for a lady whose badge reads: 

Dear Sir: I'll be your valentine 
Until we've had our tea. 

When he has found her, he escorts her to the host- 
ess, who compares the badges with the list of mottoes 
she has copied, and tells him whether or not he has 
the right companion. Half a sentence may be writ- 
ten on each valentine, if rhymes are hard to find, but 
be sure that the sentiment expressed is appropriate 
to the occasion. 



THE BOHEMIANS. 



When the friends of Miss Cameron were invited to 
attend her Bohemian party, they were also requested 
to send, with their letters of acceptance, an original 
parody on some well-known poem, and it was inti- 
mated that, should the parody contain a good-natured 
allusion to some one of the guests, it would be no less 
acceptable on that account. 

The poems arrived promptly, and were given to a 
typewriter, who copied them on very stiff paper, leav- 
ing considerable space between the lines. They were 
then cut into strips, but one line being on each, and 
thoroughly mixed. When the guests arrived they 
were seated at small tables scattered about the room, 
on each of which a plate containing a handful of the 
slips had been placed. Then a basket containing 
slips of paper bearing the various titles of the poems 
was passed around, that each might draw one. Should 
he draw the title of his own poem, he quietly re- 
turned it and took another, for it was not to be 
known who contributed any one of the parodies. 

It then became the duty of each to find the lines of 
47 



48 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

the poem that had been written under the title they 
had drawn. Much running from table to table en- 
sued, for every pile of slips must often be examined 
before a poem was in the hands of one person. In 
less than three minutes from the time the titles had 
been drawn the room was filled with the sound of 
eager voices, and no one had time to think whether 
or not he had been introduced to the neighbor with 
whom he was comparing slips of paper. 

When each person had collected and arranged the 
different lines of his poem, the hostess rapped for 
order, and the guests took turns in reading their 
poems aloud. 

Then crackers, cheese and root-beer were served, 
after which sheets of paper were passed around, each 
person being provided with one. They were then in- 
structed to write upon it, "I prophesy that," followed 
by«the name of any person present or of any person 
of note, as preferred. The top of the sheet was then 
folded over, so that the writing was concealed, and 
the paper was passed along to the right-hand neigh- 
bor, who wrote a prophesy, folded the sheet again 
and passed it on. The next one wrote the date of the 
event. Then the prophesies were collected and read 
aloud. As will be seen, there were as many prophe- 
sies as guests, and three persons had helped make 
each one. 

At this particular party one of the prophesies was 

as follows: 

I prophesy that Grover Cleveland 
Will be wearing hoop-skirts 
By the middle of next month. 



THE BOHEMIANS. 49 

A copy of one rather more personal is here given: 

I prophesy that Miss Nettie Smith and James Brown 
Will invite us to Thanksgiving dinner 
July Fourth, 1900. 

As the young people mentioned were engaged to be 
married, the prohesy was considered very good, espe- 
cially as the second writer did not know what the 
first had written. Another that was enjoyed was to 
this effect: 

I prophesy that Queen Victoria and the Sultan of 
Turkey 

Will be riding a tandem 
Within the year. 

This game was enjoyed so much that it had to be 
repeated, and more paper was produced. 

Then the most absurd game ever invented was 
played. The hostess called it by the non-committal 
name, "It." One person^ a young lawyer, who had 
become known because of his aptitude for cross-ques- 
tioning, was sent from the room, while the game was 
explained to those who remained. They were seated 
in a circle, ladies and gentlemen alternating. The 
young man was called in and invited to seat himself 
on a piano stool, which had been placed in the center 
of the circle, after having been informed that he must 
ask questions of the guests until he had discovered 
the object they had decided upon. A better idea will 
be given, perhaps, if a few of the questions and an- 
swers are quoted. 

"To what kingdom does it belong?" 

"Animal." 

"How much does it weigh?" 



50 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

"I should say about one hundred and sixty pounds." 

He was not allowed to ask a person more than one 
question at a time, and so turned to the next. 

"Miss Lawrence did not seem sure of the weight. 
What do you think it will weigh?" 

**Not more than a hundred and twenty." 

**And you?" to the next person. 

**Fully one hundred and eighty." 

Then the questioner became indignant, declaring 
that they did not answer correctly, but they assured 
him that they were all replying to the best of their 
knowledge and belief. 

The secret lay in the fact that each answered every 
question as if it had been asked about his right-hand 
neighbor, which accounts for the puzzling difference 
in weight in the replies quoted above. 

After a time the question^ noticed that there was 
always more laughter when n^-4md asked a question 
of a personal nature, and so, as unexpressed it, '*he 
waded in recklessly, with no hope of\ver discovering 
the mysterious *It,* and only intent \pn giving the 
others an opportunity to laugh as ns^uch as they 
wanted to." And while he questioned, with no hope 
of discovering the "It," it suddenly and unexpectedly 
revealed itself, and the game was ended just in time 
to preserve the lives of those who said they had 
laughed until they were almost dead. 

Root-beer, crackers and cheese were passed once 
more, and then the guests took their departure, de- 
claring that they had never spent a merrier evening. 



A BOOK PARTY. 



To give this entertainment successfully the hostess 
must exercise great care in the selection of her 
guests, inviting only those who have a fair knowledge 
of books. 

In the note of invitation each one should be re- 
quested to wear something suggestive of a book title, 
and to send the hostess two quotations from well- 
known authors, with their letter of acceptance. 

The guests may be as inexpensive or as elaborate 
as they choose in their representations of titles. She 
who represents **Rose in Bloom" need only wear a 
full-blown rose. ''Sentimental Tommy" wears a 
Scotch cap bearing the words, "From Thrums" on the 
front, and, when talking, finds many opportunities of 
informing his questioners, "I'll find a w'y!" "The 
Hidden Hand" was once represented by a gentleman 
who wore his hand in a sling concealed from view, and 
only two of the party guessed it. "A Penniless Girl*' 
is easily represented by a girl carrying: an empty 
purse open and suspended at her belt. "The Woman 

51 



52 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

in White/' "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Sear- 
let Letter" are all easily represented. It is not desir- 
able that the costume speak too plainly of the title 
selected, for the guests are expected to question one 
another regarding their peculiarities, and so they 
must be well informed as to the book they represent. 
The rule should be made that only three questions 
should be asked a person at one time by any one 
guest. 

"When were you first sent into the world?" "Who 
is responsible for you?" "Where is your home," are 
the quesitions most frequently asked. They refer to 
the date of publication, the author and the scene in 
which the book is laid. 

Upon arrival each guest should be furnished a card 
bearing the names of the entire company. When one 
fancies he has discovered a title, he should say noth- 
ing about it, but write the title opposite the name of 
the impersonator. When as much time has been 
given to this part of the programme as has been 
thought desirable, the hostess calls the company to 
order and reads aloud a correct list of names and 
titles, and each corrects his card accordingly; or, still 
better, lets the cards be exchanged, so that each must 
correct that of his neighbor, which will relieve the 
victor of the necessity of announcing his own suc- 
cess. 

The ladies of the party are then taken into an- 
other room, leaving the gentlemen alone in the par- 
lors. The ladies then make changes in their cos- 
tumes, in so far as it is necessary for them to repre- 



A BOOK PARTY. 53 

sent different book titles from those they represented 
earlier in the evening. Each may represent some- 
thing not yet seen at all, or may simply exchange 
with another guest. When necessary, the hostess 
may rob the gentlemen of their decorations for the 
benefit of the ladies. An air of secrecy reigns over 
all, for the gentlemen are not allowed to know what 
is going on until cards are distributed among them 
bearing the titles of the books the ladies now repre- 
sent. The hostess then informs them that she is 
librarian, and that each gentleman may select a book, 
keeping it five minutes. At the end of that time he 
must return it and call for another. His surprise, 
when a different lady from the one he had expected, 
steps forward, usually leads to a livelier conversation 
than would otherwise be likely to take place. 

This part of the entertainment should not be too 
long continued. The hostess should announce, at the 
beginning, that the library doors will be closed in 
three-quarters of an hour, and that there must be 
brisk work if the literary gentlemen wish to become 
acquainted with all the treasures in her library. 

At the end of the specified time two baskets of liter- 
ary nuts are passed around, one to the ladies, the 
other to the gentlemen. They are English walnuts 
halved, from which the meats have been removed. In 
the nuts passed to the gentlemen are to be found quo- 
tations from well-known authors, written on thin 
slips of paper. In those passed to the ladies are the 
names of the author and his work from which the 
Quotation was taken, as George Elliot's "Romola." 



54 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

When filled, the nut shells are glued together and tied 
with baby ribbons in delicate shades. 

They are opened as soon as passed, and then they 
must be matched, the gentleman finding the lady 
whose nut contains the name of the author of his 
quotation. It then becomes his duty to take her to 
supper. More nuts than guests should be prepared, 
for it adds to the interest when a quotation is drawn, 
and the author is not discovered, even though every 
lady has been questioned. 

When all the couples of the first drawing have been 
paired off, the nuts are again passed among the ''sin- 
gletons," as they are dubbed, and so it continues 
until all have partners. When there are more ladies 
than gentlemen, or vice versa, the hostess decides who 
shall take two partners, and they select two nuts in- 
stead of one. 

Refreshments should be served as soon as all the 
gentlemen have found their partners, and then the 
quotations brought by the guests are made use of. 
These quotations, written on little slips of paper, with 
the names of their authors affixed, should have been 
sent to the hostess with the letters of acceptance and 
copied into little booklets made of visiting cards, tied 
together with baby ribbon. These booklets make 
lovely souvenirs, and even if the hostess must hire 
an artist to make them, the expense will not be great. 
On the upper left-hand corner of each page the name 
of the guest sending the quotation should be written. 
Then comes the quotation, with space left beneath it 
for the name of the author. The first page of the 



J 



A BOOK PARTY. 55 

booklet contains the name of the guest and the host 
and hostess and the date of the party. The lettering 
on this should be quite elaborate. These booklets 
should be laid beside the plate, and their contents 
may be the subject of discussion, while the refresh- 
ments are served, but all are forbidden to ask or tell 
the name of an author of any of the quotations given. 

When the guests return to the parlor they are al- 
lowed a certain length of time in which to afilx 
names to the quotations. The booklets are then ex- 
changed, and the hostess reads the quotations with 
the proper names. The person who has placed most 
of them correctly is then suitably rewarded. 

Several small tables should then be brought in, on 
each side of which many different articles are ar- 
ranged. They are placed in the room where the 
guests can easily gather around them. One large 
table might be used, but several small ones are bet- 
ter if there are many guests, for they can go from one 
to another and avoid crowding. The hostess hands 
each guest a sheet of paper, fastened on cardboard 
for convenience in writing, and explains that each 
object on the tables is supposed to represent the title 
of some book. For instance, at one party three small 
white wings, tied together with a ribbon, were easily 
guessed to be **White Wings," by William Block. A 
small picture of a cat, wearing a necktie and holding 
a hat in one paw, while he smiled on a cat who sat 
near, was considered a good representation of ''Sen- 
timental Tommy." The picture had been cut from a 
child's story-book and mounted on pasteboard. 



56 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

"Seven Oaks" was represented by seven small pieces 
of oak tied together, and a small calendar in a minia- 
ture log house did nicely for "My Year in a Log 
Cabin." **April Hopes," *'Three Feathers," *'Plain 
Tales from the Hills," "The Pioneers," "Trilby," "The 
Wide, Wide World," "A Christmas Carol," "No 
Name," "The Scarlet Letter," "Mosses from an Old 
Manse," "The Wandering Jew," "The Hidden Hand" 
are all easily represented, and half a dozen catalogues 
from as many different publishing houses will fur- 
nish as many as can be used. 

The guests are then allowed a certain length of 
time in which to write as many of the titles as they 
can guess, after which the papers are examined, a 
correct list of the titles represented read aloud and 
the victorious party rewarded. 

It requires considerable work to get up a party like 
this, but it is a great compliment to receive an invi- 
tation to such an one, and well repays the effort. It 
will be more likely to be satisfactory if the hostess 
makes her plans several days before sending out her 
invitations, so as to have plenty of time to think 
about it. All the book titles to be represented can be 
selected beforehand, and a note made as to the object 
used for each. Then the quotations may all be made 
by the hostess instead of being sent in by the guests 
and the booklets planned ready for copying. 



A GEOGRAPHY PARTY. 



For this entertainment it is a good idea to send 
invitations on paper decorated with small represen- 
tations of globes, or you may draw a map of the 
State the guest is to represent on the reverse side. 
The invitation may be worded something as follows: 

Miss Lucile Williams presents compliments to Roger 
Harrison, alias "Massachusetts," and requests the pleas- 
ure of his company Tuesday evening, March fifth, to take 
part in the festivities of the United States. 

This will be likely to cause considerable excite- 
ment, and the sender of the invitations may expect 
calls from the prospective guests, who wish further 
information, in order that they may be prepared for 
the part they are expected to play. 

They must be instructed that they are not to tell 
what State they are supposed to represent, but must 
be prepared to answer any question concerning it 
except one that may be answered by yes or no. They 
must answer each question as correctly as possible, 
but may also be evasive. For instance, if asked, 
"What is the capital of your State?" instead of men- 

57 



58 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

tioning the name, they may reply, if they happen to 
represent Minnesota, "One of the saintliest of cities.'* 

Each guest is provided with a card and pencil upon 
entering the house, and it is explained to him that 
• he must discover what State is represented by each 
of the other guests. He must not say to the guest, 
"I believe you are such a State," but must quietly 
make note of it on his card. Each card contains the 
names of all the guests, with space opposite for the 
name of the State. At the bottom of the card the 
hour when they are to be examined is mentioned. 
The hostess rings a small bell when the time arrives, 
and requests that each guest exchange cards with his 
neighbor. She then reads from her memoranda the 
names of the guests, with the States they represent, 
and the cards are corrected accordingly. The one 
making the most correct guesses has a gold medal; 
the second best a silver medal, and the third best one 
of iron or leather. It is not well to call attention to 
those making the fewest good guesses in this enter- 
tainment. 

Next the guests are given cards bearing the names 
of the States, with a request to write their capital 
cities opposite, and only a limited time is allowed for 
this exercise. The cards are exchanged, as before, 
the correct answers are read by the hostess and again 
medals are distributed. 

Refreshments follow, and then the guests are seat- 
ed before a curtain, for there are to be tableaux. 

Again the guests are handed cards, this time simply 
numbered, and it is explained that the tableaux are 



A GEOGRAPHY PARTY. 69 

to illustrate the abbreviations of the different States, 
and they are to guess the abbreviations and write 
them opposite the tableaux or charades, whichever 
may be chosen. 

For instance, there is a scene showing a sick per- 
son, his friends gathered about and the doctor feeling 
his pulse. That, of course, should be guessed *'I11.," 
and that abbreviation written opposite the tableau- 
Then one gentleman may be seen with a number of 
children around him or a charade may be acted in 
which "Pa.'* takes a prominent part. Kan., Conn., O., 
La., Ark., Miss., Mass., Me., may all be shown either 
in tableaux or charades. There should be one or two 
friends to help plan them beforehand, and they will 
need to be behind the scenes constantly; but the 
others required to take part should be selected from 
the audience as needed, and there will be more in- 
terest shown if they are not told previously what is 
required of them. 

When all the abbreviations decided upon have been 
used the cards held by the audience are examined, 
and once more the medals are awarded. Then the 
one holding the largest number of medals is given a 
diploma with appropriate ceremonies, and the eve- 
ning is ended. These closing exercises may be made 
quite funny, or may be very simple, as the hostess 
prefers. 

The medals are simply round pieces of cardboard 
gilded or silvered or cut from leather. Quite a num- 
ber should be prepared so that in case of ties each 
contestant may have one. The diploma may be 



60 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

made pretty with water-color designs and fancy let- 
tering, or it may be done in verse of home manufac- 
ture, or otherwise arranged to suit the fancy. 

It is well to have reserve cards, with questions, to 
be used before serving refreshments, if those already 
mentioned should not happen to fill the time. There 
is a great difference in assemblages in such matters, 
some amusing themselves much longer over the same 
tasks. The reserve cards might require the guests 
to mention the metropolis of each State and Terri- 
tory — something that will require considerable 
thought on the part of most people v/ho have been 
out of school even for a short time. 



1 



A CHARADE PARTY. 



It is said that it requires peculiar genius to enter- 
tain old and young people together and make all have 
a good time, so, perhaps, the following description of 
an entertainment will be eagerly read, for the enter- 
tainment was most successful. 

First, three young ladies, bright, vivacious lead- 
ers among their companions, were invited to after- 
noon tea by the lady who intended giving the party, 
and plans were laid while partaking of it. These 
young ladies were each to be captain over a squad of 
five young people on the night of the entertainment, 
and the proposed company of eighteen young people 
was portioned off that afternoon, so as to have the 
squads equally strong when considered from a dra- 
matic point of view. 

The idea was to have each company act out the 
syllables of a word for the others to guess. They 
must not make use of written charades, although they 
might write one themselves if they could; nor was a 
professional actor to be present. As nearly as pos- 

61 



62 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

sible it was to be an impromptu charade party, with 
the exception that scenes were planned beforehand, 
in order to avoid delay in the evening. 

Seven quite elderly people, who had no liking for 
ceremonious entertainments, were invited to come as 
judges, for prizes were to be offered to the company 
acting their charade most acceptably. These judges 
were given easy chairs, where they could see and hear 
without difficulty, and when a commander was ready 
to begin she first stepped forward and handed the 
judges a slip of paper containing the word to be 
acted, divided into syllables according to the number 
of scenes. To the other actors who formed her audi- 
ence, she gave simply the number of syllables in the 
word and the number of scenes that would be given. 

A room on the second floor was utilized as a dress- 
ing-room, the hall and stairs as waiting-room, the 
front parlor as stage, and the back parlor as audito- 
rium. There was no attempt at stage or scenic ef- 
fects, although the young people were given the priv- 
ilege of arranging the furniture to suit themselves. 

Tea and wafers were served between acts, when 
there v/as conversation — all the young people pre- 
tending to gain the good will of the judges. 

The six head prizes consisted of six dainty little 
pictures, cabinet size, that had been painted by the 
hostess, who was an artist. Each actor on the win- 
ning side was given one, while all the other actors 
were given buttonhole bouquets, designated as *'booby 
prizes." 

Tea and wafers were taken standing, when all the 



A CHARADE PARTY. 63 

charades had heen acted, and the scene was full of 
animation when the prizes were awarded. 

It is not a great deal of trouble to get up an enter- 
tainment like this, for the hostess does not have all 
the work to do. Her guests require no entertain- 
ment, and they will go home declaring that they 
never had a better time. 



A KINDERGARTEN FOR ADULTS. 



An enterprising young couple determined to give 
an entertainment quite unlike anything yet given in 
the village where they lived, and after considerable 
discussion the following invitations were sent out: 

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton will be pleased to welcome you 
at their home, Monday evening, December first, when 
their new kindergarten for adults will be opened, at pre- 
cisely nine o'clock, under the auspices of Professor Know- 
itall. The most competent teachers in the country will be 
in attendance. 

A gentleman friend was induced to appear as Pro- 
fessor Knowitall, and several ladies agreed to be 
teachers. They were given an opportunity to pre- 
pare for the part they were expected to play. 

When the guests had all arrived they were called to 
order by the ringing of a tea bell, and were soon 
seated facing the professor, who had disguised him- 
self with a long, white beard and flowing locks to 
match. He made a little opening address on the 
necessity of an education and the impossibility for 
bad boys and girls to acquire one; then, after assur- 

64 



A KINDERGARTEN FOR ADULTS. 65" 

ing them that he was convinced that there were no 
naughty children in his school, he announced that 
they would begin with an old-fashioned spelling-bee^ 

Two of the guests, a gentleman and a lady, were 
called upon to choose sides, and it was explained that 
only simple words, suitable to kindergarten pupils,^ 
would be given out, but that these words must all 
be spelled backv^ard. When all the guests had beea 
chosen and were standing in two long rows opposite^ 
each other, one of the teachers came forward to pro- 
nounce the words, which had been previously select- 
ed and copied on a sheet of paper, v/hile the profes- 
sor gave his entire attention to keeping order. The 
words were pronounced first to a member of one side, 
then of the other, as in old-time spelling schools, and 
a person failing to spell it backward correctly at the 
first trial was obliged to take his seat, v/hile his op-» 
ponent tried it. 

Simple words were selected, for, although it may 
seem easy to spell **west," for instance, t s e w, it is 
really quite difficult when one must do it without 
preparation and with little time for reflection. But 
no feeling of mortification attends failure in this, be- 
cause one is not expected to know how to spell w^ords 
backward, and therein lies the charm of this enter- 
tainment. 

When but a few persons remained standing, the 
words given were more difficult, for it then became 
an object to get all seated as soon as possible. 

When but one remained, the professor arose, and[ 
presented him a card on which the words "Reward 



66 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

of Merit" were outlined in gilt. It was prettily dec- 
orated, and was designed as a book-mark, a dainty 
silk cord and tassel being attached to one end to in- 
dicate its position between the leaves. 

Then the professor announced that sides were to 
be chosen again, for there was still another kind 
of spelling bee in which he desired all his dear pupils 
to participate. He called another lady and gentle- 
man to choose sides, and when the opposing forces 
were in order he told them what was expected of 
them. 

The lady leader then began by mentioning a letter, 
S being the one that chanced to occur to her. The 
leader on the opposite side promptly repeated the S 
and added e. **S e n,"said the person next the lady 
leader. *'S e n s," said the opponent on the gentle- 
man's side. **S e n s i," said the next member of the 
lady's corps, and so it continued until the word "sen- 
sitive" had been spelled. It chanced that a member 
of the lady's corps pronounced the last letter, and 
the person opposite could not add one, so he was 
obliged to take his seat. The next member of the 
lady's corps then started the next word, pronouncing 
the letter L. It went on until "lamentations" had 
been spelled, and, as a member of the gentleman's 
corps had pronounced the S, and the opposing party 
could not add a letter, the lady lost one of her help- 
ers. 

This continued until all but one had been spelled 
down, affording quite as much enjoyment to those 
who were obliged to take their seats early in the 



A KINDERGARTEN FOR ADULTS. 67 

game as it did to those who remained. The winner 
was given a ''reward of merit" as before. 

Considerable ingenuity may be shown in adding 
letters that must bring the word to a close on the 
opposite side. Any one who adds a letter that can- 
not be found following the preceding letters in any 
word in the dictionary is counted out as if he had 
failed to supply any letter. 

At the party under consideration, these two spell- 
ing bees filled the time from nine o'clock until half- 
past ten, when the hostess raised her hand, snapping 
her fingers, school-boy fashion, and asked: **Please, 
may I pass the v/ater?" Permission was given by the 
professor, who suggested that she allow some of the 
other children to help her, when she made her selec- 
tion, of course, according to previous arrangement. 
Soon little tables were brought into the room and 
placed conveniently before the guests. A white cover 
was spread over each, and a dish of fruit, vs^ith fruit 
knives, placed in the center. Plates and napkins 
were passed around; then came coffee, sandwiches, 
pickles and cake. 

When the tables and dishes had been cleared away, 
the professor again called the school to order. Then 
another teacher was introduced, who immediately 
furnished each pupil with a card and pencil. On the 
cards were names of cities, the letters being so trans- 
posed that it was difficult to recognize them. For in- 
stance the first read "Soaplinnime," and there were 
several who did not discover that it was **Minne- 
apolis." There were twelve of these words on these 



68 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

cards, and only ten minutes were allowed for 
writing the name of the city opposite the trans- 
position. At the end of that time the cards were 
exchanged, so that each corrected the card of his 
right-hand neighbor. The one who excelled in trans- 
position was given a reward of merit like those 
awarded the victorious pupil who preceded him, the 
stately professor always making a short presentation 
speech. 

The third teacher now came forward with sheets of 
paper, one for each pupil. These sheets were fast- 
ened to pasteboard, for convenience in writing. On 
each one were three rows of letters as follows: 

1. G. j, f, a, d, w, p, s. 

2. A, m, f, b, c, a, c, d, f, a. 

3. W, i, g, o, i, s, d, a, h, e, m. 

Sufficient space was left after each row to enable 
the pupil to write a sentence, each word of v/hich 
must begin with the letter indicated. For instance, 
one guest had these three sentences: 

1. George Jenks fought a duel with Patrick Sullivan. 

2. A man from Boston caught a cold, dying from 
apoplexy. 

3. When I grow old, I shall dance a hornpipe every 
morning. 

Another paper bore sentences as follows: 

1. Get jeans for a duck waist, please, Sarah. 

2. Anna, my foot bleeds constantly, and Cora doesn*t 
feel afraid. 

3. Well, I'll go off if Susie doesn't arrange her edifice 
mornings. 

Ten minutes were allowed in which to write the 
three sentences. Each pupil signed his name to his 
production, and then all the papers were taken up by 



A KINDERGARTEN FOR ADULTS. 6y 

the teacher, who read them aloud, without giving 
names of the writers. They were then voted upon 
by the class, who were obliged to be severely critical 
in order to agree upon one. For instance, in the first 
list of sentences given, the writer failed to win be- 
cause of his use of the word, from, in the second sen- 
tence. The second list was condemned because a 
duck waist could not be made from jeans. These 
criticisms occasioned no ill-feeling, for everyone un- 
derstood how difficult it was to construct a sentence 
properly under such conditions, and each criticism 
only served to add to the merriment. 

The next and last exercise was quite wild enough 
to suit the mood of the pupils who, by this time, were 
most festively inclined. 

A fourth teacher was introduced, who selected a 
lady and gentleman from among the guests— for, 
once more, sides were to be chosen. When that 
ceremony was completed, those first chosen on each 
side were called to stand before the teacher, who ex- 
plained that she would pronounce the first syllable 
of a word, and the one who first succeeded in adding 
remaining syllables would be declared the victor. 

"Per," she then said, quite sharply. 

**Mit,'* promptly responded one of the parties, while 
the other, fairly tongue-tied, was vainly trying to say 
"quisite." 

The first speaker then returned to his place, while 
the vanquished one was obliged to leave the class. 

Again a couple was called before the teacher, one 
from each side. 



70 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

*'Con/* said the teacher. 

"Sumption/' replied one, just as the other shouted 
*'tent." It was considered a tie, and they were given 
another trial. 

So it went on, until all had been called upon once, 
when it was discovered that the lady was left with 
but five ''soldiers,'* as she called them, while the gen- 
tleman had nine. 

"Never mind," she said, cheerfully, "mine suffered 
while getting accustomed to the work; now they are 
ready for you!" 

They took turns, as before, but, of course, the 
lady's soldiers, being less in number, v/ere obliged to 
go forward more frequently, and to the amusement 
of all concerned, beat the other side quite badly, hav- 
ing three left, when the last one on the other side had 
taken his seat. These three were each given a re- 
ward of merit by the professor, and then the party 
dispersed, all declaring that they had not laughed so 
heartily in years. 

This entertainment may be gotten up at very slight 
expense. In fact, nothing is really needed except the 
refreshments, and the cards, pencils, blank paper, 
and ''rewards of merit." These may be as simple or 
as elegant as desired. In this case they were painted 
by the hostess, who did such work beautifully. 

The teachers all took their places as pupils when 
not on duty, and, as care was used to select different 
parties as leaders whenever sides were to be chosen, 
a number of the guests were given prominent parts, 
which added greatly to the success of the party. 



i 



AN EVENING WITH THE OCCULT. 



Many people know how much fun there is in a 
masked ball, given under proper conditions; but 
there are few who know that there may be more en- 
joyment in masked parties where other forms of 
amusement are substituted for dancing. Such violent 
exercise as dancing becomes very uncomfortable 
when a mask is worn, and only such costumes can be 
chosen as are not easily disarranged, or very much, 
in the way. But, where there is to be no dancing^ 
such restrictions need not be considered. 

The invitations sent out for a party given not long" 
ago, by a lady whose entertainments are always well 
attended, were written on sheets of note-paper decor- 
ated with a tiny representation of a zodiac, with stars 
and moons scattered along the margin. They were 
worded as follows: 

Mr. and Mrs. Burnett present compliments to Mr. and 

Mrs. , and request the pleasure of their company on 

the evening of December 10, 1897. 

The evening will be given to the occult and mysterious, 
and all are requested to come costumed and masked so 
as not to be easily recognized. 

Four lady friends, who lived out of the city, were 

71 



72 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

invited to help receive. They, as well as the host 
and hostess, were so dressed as not to be quickly rec- 
ognized even by those who knew them best. 

All the rooms on the second floor were turned into 
dressing rooms, and two negroes took charge of the 
guests as soon as they reached the upper landing, 
so that no two should be in a room at the same time. 
Other help was engaged for the evening, to assist the 
guests while dressing. 

A man and his wife were not allowed to go into 
the parlors together, and in several cases did not rec- 
ognize each other when they met, for each had kept 
their costume a secret. 

Every one w^as escorted, separately, by a master of 
■ceremonies, who left them at the door, where they 
w^ere immediately taken in charge by the hostess or 
one of her assistants, and left at some place of inter- 
est, after which each was expected to make his own 
v\^ay. 

A memoranda with pencil was handed to each 
guest as soon as he entered the parlor, and it was 
-explained that there was to be no introductions, but 
that every one was to feel free to talk with every one 
»else; for all were to guess the identity of as many as 
possible of the maskers. In a prominent place there 
^as a list containing the names of the invited guests, 
to which any one might refer at any time. It was 
explained that on the memoranda entries were to be 
made something like this: 

"Night" — Mrs. Green. 

''Queen of Sheba"— Miss Moffett. 



AN EVENING WITH THE OCCULT. 73 

Each was to be given a separate line, that they 
might easily be referred to when the memorandas 
were examined with a view to ascertaining who had 
made the largest number of correct guesses. 

The rooms were beautifully decorated, and from 
behind a bank of ferns there floated the strains of 
music, furnished by an orchestra engaged for the 
purpose. 

Quaint booths were discovered at various places 
in the different rooms. They were occupied by as- 
trologers, palmists and those who told fortunes by 
cards, all of whom were professional, and had been 
engaged for the evening. The guests, supposing 
them to be acquaintances of the hostess, playing a 
part, were often surprised by the answers they re- 
ceived to their questions. Frequently, one of the 
guests was heard daring another to go with him to 
the palmist or astrologer, where information might 
be gleaned that would lead to his identity. 

The memorandas were collected just before refresh- 
ments were served, and handed to one of the ser- 
vants, who was directed to make out a list contain- 
ing the names of the guests, with the number of cor- 
rect guesses each had made. A list cf guests, with 
their impersonations, had been made out by the mas- 
ter of ceremonies as the guests arrived, and was used 
in examining the memoranda. 

There was a general unmasking when the refresh- 
ments were served, and many were surprised to fxUd 
that they had escorted some one whom they scarcely 
knew at all. Before the guests left the table, the list 



74 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

was brought in and read aloud, exciting much laugh- 
ter. Prizes were given the gentleman and lady mak- 
ing most good guesses, as well as those who had 
made fewest. 

After supper there was music and conversation,, 
the palmists, astrologers and fortune tellers becom- 
ing centres of curious groups, who had many ques- 
tions to ask concerning their mysterious lore. 

It was a scene of beauty and animation not soon 
to be forgotten by one who was fortunate enough ta 
be present. 

To give an entertainment like this involves an out- 
lay of money that cannot be afforded by every one; 
but t^ose who can afford it will find it worth trying. 



THE ARTISTS AT PLAY. 



Formal notes of invitation written on cards cut to 
represent palettes were sent out for this entertain- 
ment, and none of the guests knew beforehand just 
how they were to be amused, although they were sure 
it had something to do with artists. 

When they arrived, each lady was given a card 
bearing the name of some great painting. The gen- 
tlemen received a card bearing the name of the paint- 
er, and the date when one of his paintings was 
finished. He was to find the lady whose card 
bore the name of the painting done by the 
artist whose name V\^as on his card, and in 
the year mentioned there. Many of the gentle- 
men's cards bore the name Rosa Bonheur, but 
on each there was a different date. Few of them 
knew in what year a picture had been painted by this 
artist, and so were obliged to escort any lady, whose 
card bore the title of one of her pictures, to the host- 
ess, where they inquired if they had brought the 
proper lady before her. If not, they must try again. 
It was a good way to break the ice, and promote gen- 

75 



76 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

eral conversation during the first part of the even- 
ing. 

When all had found partners, a card was handed 
to each couple bearing the name of some great 
painter, and they were instructed that they must 
search among the cards that had been piled on a 
large table in the center of the room, until they had 
found those that, placed together, formed a sketch of 
the painter, with a list of his best known pictures. 

The cards for this game were made like those 
described in the entertainment, "A Meeting of Ce- 
lebrities," except that there were eight cards for each 
painter; but less sketches are needed to entertain a 
company, as only two people collect the cards for each. 

Prizes were given a couple who first completed a 
sketch. As in the game mentioned, the hostess had 
a little book of reference which she had made for the 
occasion. 

Next, a large sheet of paper was handed each per- 
son, on which he was instructed to draw an historical 
picture, and it was explained that they were not 
expected to show artistic talent in this exercise. If 
they could only remember what they had endeavored 
to portray, nothing more was asked of them. Before 
they began work the hostess read a list of historical 
subjects, in order to refresh the^r memories. One 
gentleman endeavored to picture "Washington Cross- 
ing the Delaware," and another strove to represent 
"Smith Saving the Life of Pocahontas," and neither 
did his work well enough to have it interpreted cor- 
rectly by even one person. 



THE ARTISTS AT PLAY. 77 

The pictures were signed when finished, and passed 
from one to another, each writing beneath it what he 
believed it represented. The first wrote his guess at 
the bottom of the sheet, th^i folded it under so it 
could not be read by the next, who wrote his just 
above it, also folding it under. 

When the artists received each his own work back 
again, they read aloud, in turn, the different guesses, 
and then told what they had tried to portray. 

The hostess had a list of the names of the guests, 
and as each artist finished, she gave a credit mark 
to all who had interpreted his picture correctly. 
When the game was finished, prizes were given the 
one who had the largest, and the smallest, number 
of credit marks. 

There are few games that create more amusement 
than this, and it leaves no unpleasantness behind it. 

When refreshments had been served, the guests 
were again furnished with paper and pencils, and told 
to draw an illustration of some proverb. These pic- 
tures were then handed around for the others to 
guess the subjects, as the historical sketches had 
been, creating quite as much amusement. 

''It is a long lane that has no turning," "Small 
pitchers have large ears," "A rolling stone gathers 
no moss," were all honored with many correct guess- 
es; but the pictures made to illustrate, "Curses, like 
chickens, come home to roost," "Every man thinks 
his own geese swans" and "All's well that ends 
well," were not so easily interpreted. 

In this, as in the historical illustrations, the host- 



78 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

ess gave credit marks to those making correct guess- 
es, the names being furnished by each artist when 
his illustration was returned to him. 

Sides were then chosen by a lady and a gentleman, 
and a new game described, which was as follows: 

The lady sent one of her party to a chair so placed 
that he must face the members of the opposition, who 
then addressed remarks to him, each in the character 
of the artist, to which he must reply, *"Twas I;" but 
when an artist's name was mentioned, he must 
simply say, *'Indeed." 

For instance, the person at the head of the opposi- 
tion said: 

"I painted a picture of a monkey." 

" 'Twas I," replied the poor victim. 

"He was eating thistles,'' continued the first speak- 
er. 

" 'Twas I," again replied the victim. 

"Rosa Bonheur furnished the copy," was the third 
remark made by the first speaker. 

"Indeed!" should be the victim's next reply. 

Then the next member of the opposition took up 
the observations. 

"Rembrandt has a new model." 

"Indeed!" 

"I got him for Rembrandt from Sing Sing.'* 

"Indeed!" 

"He had been arrested for bigamy." 

" 'Twas I ." 

No matter how much the other guests may laugh 
while playing this game, the victim must keep quite 



THE ARTISTS AT PLAY. 79 

serious. If he laughs, or if he fails to make the 
proper response, he is then obliged to take his seat 
with the opposition, and the person who chose him 
loses one member of her company. The idea is to see 
which leader will have the larger company at the 
end of an hour. Each person on the opposite side 
was expected to make three remarks to the victim, 
the first always referring to a picture. If he failed 
in this, he was promptly called to sit on the opposite 
side. The members of the other side were expected 
to help a comrade who sat in the victim's chair by 
retraining from laughter until he returned to them. 
The sides, of course, took turns in torturing the 
victims sent from the opposite side. 

At the party in question, a young lady sat in the 
victim's chair and was tortured in this way by a mis- 
chievous young man. 

*'I painted a picture of a man with enormous feet, 
a carbuncle on his nose, and a ferocious mustache." 

** 'Twas I," she gravely replied. 

*'Bonheur used him as a model for a monkey." 

"Indeed!" 

'*I found him masquerading in woman's attire at 
a party." 

" 'Twas I." 

This nonsensical game brought the evening to a 
close in the most hilarious manner imaginable, and 
the "artists" went home declaring that they had 
never enjoyed themselves better. 



A SPINNING PARTY. 



On a wintry day in November, invitations like that 
following found their way into the homes of a certain 
set of young people in a Western city: 

Miss Winnie Bailey, 

at Home, 

November 20th, 1897, 

From 8:30 to 12 P. M. 

Will you walk into my parlor? 

On the upper left-hand corner there was a picture 
of a spider spinning his web, and a fly struggling to 
escape from its meshes. 

When the guests arrived, they saw an old-fash- 
ioned spinning wheel in the center of the room, with 
flax near oy, all ready for spinning. They Vv^ere told 
that all must try for the prizes that were to be award- 
ed to the lady and gentleman who spun the best 
thread, after flve minutes' trial. The mother of the 
hostess, who had done such work when a girl, stood 
near to give instruction, and to time the contestants. 
Those who have no knowledge of spinning can have 
no idea how much fun there is in trying to make an 

80 



A SPINNING PARTY. 81 

even thread, more especially when surrounded by 
interested young people of no greater experience. As 
the different threads were finished, they were fast- 
ened to a tag bearing the name of the worker, and 
then pinned to a square of black cloth that had been 
pinned to the wall for that purpose. When all had 
tried, a committee was appointed to help the hostess 
decide to whom prizes should be awarded. 

While the spinning was going on, the guests whose 
turn at the wheel had not arrived, and those who 
had already tried, were set to following the threads; 
of what looked like an immense spider web wound 
around the rooms. It was composed of black and 
white threads, the black threads being intended for 
gentlemen, and the white ones for ladies. They were 
instructed that when they found an end of one of 
these threads, they were to begin winding it into a 
ball; but that they must do so very gently, or the 
whole web would be knotted so badly that it could 
not be undone. When they came to a knot, it must 
be untied. These threads were so ingeniously twist- 
ed together, and wound around pictures, bric-a-brac, 
table legs, etc., that it took some time to reach the 
farther end, and every one had plenty of opportunity 
to talk with every one else. A card was fastened to 
the farther end of each thread, and all the cards had 
been so well concealed from view that some time 
elapsed before the guests knew what they were to 
find. 

On each card was written the words, **You will take 
supper with the one v/ho holds the mate to your 



82 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

card?" Then the cards must be compared. Each 
contained a spider web, some with four circles, some 
with more; some with eight divisions, others with 
more or less; but there were always two of each kind, 
and through the peculiarities of these webs the part- 
ners discovered each other. The difference in webs 
was sometimes so slight as not to be detected with- 
out close observation; but it was always plain after 
having once been pointed out. It is surprising how 
many different designs can be worked out in these 
w^ebs. The work is really quite fascinating when 
once begun, so the thought of it must not frighten 
any one from giving a spinning party. 

When the prizes had been awarded to the best spin- 
ners of yarn, several tables were brought in and set 
about the room. 

On the top of each there was fastened a heavy sheet 
of drawing paper, upon which five circles had been 
drawn. The outside circle was as large as the table 
would allow. The inner one was only two inches in 
diameter. The other three circles were drawn at 
equal distances between these two. In the inner 
space on one table were the figures 25; the next 20; 
then came 15, 10 and 5. On the next table the inner 
space was marked SO, and each of the other spaces 5 
less. On the third and last table the inner circle 
-was marked 50, and each of the others 5 less. i ] 

Each player was given a top, made from a spool, N 
and all the guests took turns spinning the tops on f 
the table having the lowest figures. When the top [ i 
ceased spinning, the player was credited with the lu. 






A SPINNING PARTY. 83 

number on which the point of the top rested. As 
soon as a player had twenty-five to his credit, he ad- 
vanced to the next higher table. There he must win 
fifty points before he could pass on to the highest 
table. When he had won a hundred points at the third 
table, he was obliged to begin again at the foot table. 
The top must not be touched while spinning. Should 
it drop to the floor, the player must make ten before 
he can begin to count again. Should he make 25 
at the next trial, he only counted 15; but he had a 
second trial when his top had dropped to the floor, 
before the next player spun his top. 

Each player had a credit card tied in his button- 
hole upon which numbers something like the meal 
tickets issued at restaurants were closely v>Titten. 
When added these numbers should make 500. The 
hostess had a punch with which she cut out the 
numbers to correspond with those won by the player. 
When any player had no more numbers on his card, 
he was declared winner and the game was ended. 

This game becomes very exciting, even to elderly 
people, and sometimes it is dlflicult to get them to 
give it up, even long enough to serve refreshments; 
but it keeps the guests on their feet so continuously 
that something of an entirely different nature should 
be planned for the remainder of the evening. 

Nothing will be found more suitable or enjoyable 
than ''spinning yarns." The hostess begins by saying 
anything that occurs to her. The person at her 
right must add a sentence or more, each, in turn, fol- 
lowing suit. To make this perfectly plain, I will try 



84 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

to reproduce the first part of a yarn spun at one such 
party. 

*'Once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden 
named Mary Jones/' said the hostess. 

"She was the only child of the original Jones who 
became wealthy peddling buttons," added the right- 
hand neighbor. 

"She was beloved by a man named John Smith," 
added the next. 

"Whose father felt himself superior to the father of 
Mary, because he dealt in the bones from which the 
Jones' buttons had been made," was the quite unex- 
pected sentence added by the next party. 

And so the story increased until Smith had mur- 
dered Jones, and several ghosts had appeared on the 
scene, causing a lynching, a divorce and a suicide. 

It is curious to see how one of these stories is 
worked out. No one can tell, when it is begun, or, 
indeed, at any time, what the endings will be, and no 
one knows what he himself will say, for he cannot 
plan it until he has heard what the player just before 
him adds to the story. 

VvT'hen you want to give a party that is new to your 
friends, try a spinning party like this, and you will 
not regret it. 



A DRAWING ATTRACTION. 



There will be a drawing attraction at the home 
of Mr. and Mrs. Lyndale on the evening of March 3, 1897. 
You are cordially invited to be present. 

On the evening in question a merry group of young 
people gathered at the Lyndale home, ready for one 
of the unconventional good times that previous ex- 
perience had taught them to expect. 

Palettes cut from cardboard were passed around 
in baskets when all the guests had arrived, ladies 
drawing from one and gentlemen from the other. 
The palettes had lead pencils attached by long silken 
cords, which hung over the edges of the baskets in 
picturesque confusion, and each guest selected a pen- 
cil, gently drawing out the palette attached. No two 
of the palettes in either basket were alike, but the 
gentlemen were assured that among the guests they 
would find a lady with a palette corresponding ex- 
actly with the one they held, and that that lady was 
to be his partner until after refreshments were 
served. 

The palettes -were so nearly alike that it was some 
85 



86 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

time before the entire company found partners and 
were ready for work. When they were, the hostess 
explained that the queer looking lines marked on the 
palettes drawn by the ladies were to be combined in 
a picture to be drawn on the gentleman's palette. 
The lines copied from the lady's palette were to be 
made very heavy in the completed picture in order 
to be quickly seen when they were handed in for 
examination. Six irregular lines had been drawn at 
random on each palette intended for the ladies, and 
at first sight it did not seem possible that they could 
be so combined as to form the rudest sort of a pic- 
ture. The partners conferred together, as to the 
subject of the drawing, and bursts of laughter were 
heard from all parts of the room as the work pro- 
gressed. 

When the time set for the completion of the pic- 
tures had arrived the palettes belonging to each 
couple were tied together, then gathered up by the 
hostess, who placed them in the hands of the examin- 
ing committee, who were to decide which couple de- 
served the first prize. 

This examining committee was made up of the 
mother of the hostess and a few of her most intimate 
friends who, while they felt themselves too old to 
take a very active part in the fun of the evening, were 
very glad to be given something to do that prevented 
them from being entirely shut out. Among them 
was an old gentleman who spoke well, and upon him 
fell the duty of declaring who was entitled to first 
prize, in the opinion of the judges. He fulfilled this 



A DRAWING ATTRACTION. 87 

duty in a manner so witty that it added very materi- 
ally to the pleasure of the evening, and leads to this 
suggestion: In getting up this entertainment, be 
sure to have a scholarly old gentleman of nimble wit 
among your judges. 

The gentleman and lady whose work was pro- 
nounced most artistic were each given a medal cut 
from cardboard in the shape of a tiny palette, and 
gilded. These medals were fastened to baby ribbon 
and hung from the neck like old-fashioned lockets. 

Next the guests were gathered around a large cen- 
ter table, on which a sheet of drawing paper had been 
securely fastened. They were blindfolded in turn 
and required to draw a pig, taking the hand from the 
paper before adding the eyes and tail. The name of 
the artist was written under each pig, and when al! 
had taken turn in thus furnishing amusement for the 
others, the paper of drawings was handed to the 
judges, who once more awarded medals to the two 
most successful. 

Then smaller sheets of paper were brought and 
each couple who had drawn palettes alike were 
blindfolded and required to draw^ a combination don- 
key, one furnishing the body, the other adding ears, 
eyes, tail and legs. In most cases the gentleman 
drew the body, while the lady kept her hand cloFe 
enough to his to get an idea of the position, and she 
was allowed to ask him on which side of the paper 
the head was supposed to be, or where she ought to 
add the legs. It was a most ridiculous form of en- 
tertainment, and few donkeys were produced that 



SS MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

resembled anything ever seen before. When the 
partners had finished the drawings, they wrote their 
names before the coverings were removed from their 
eyes. 

When each couple had contributed a drawing, the 
different sheets of paper were given to the judges 
for inspection, and once more medals were given 
those whose work was considered most meritorious. 

Next little four-inch wooden plaques were distrib- 
uted among the guests, with "tools" made of knitting 
needles broken in two and fastened into corn-cob 
handles. Each guest had one plaque and two tools, 
one made from a fine needle, the other from a coarse 
one. A little gas stove was lighted for the heating 
of the tools, and each couple set to work to make 
companion pictures in poker work. The pictures 
were simply awful, but the fun of making them was 
something to be remembered. Each picture was 
named when finished, for in many cases it looked 
more like something else than what the artist had 
planned. 

One gentleman started out to picture the discovery 
of America, while his partner was to represent the 
landing of Columbus; but they concluded that it 
would be better to call his picture "The Imps in the 
Punch-Bowl," and hers "The Escape of the Imps." 

Another gentleman drew a picture of a forlorn- 
looking man. It was labelled "Will She Say No?" 
The lady drew quite a jaunty gentleman, who was 
supposed to be the same individual, and her plaque 
l)ore the title, "She Said Yes." 



A DRAWING ATTRACTION. 89 

Another drew something that looked as much like 
a worn-out broom as anything, but it bore the am- 
bitious title, **The Thistle in October." The lady's 
picture consisted of a number of poker marks that 
seemed to have been made at random, but she de- 
clared that it was a good representation of her sub- 
ject, **The Result of the Conflict between the Thistle 
and Jack Frost." 

The ambitious title underneath such a poor attempt 
at drawing called forth shouts of merriment from the 
assembled guests. 

While the judges examined the specimens of poker 
work, the stove and tools were carried away, and 
refreshments brought in. They were served from a 
large table in the center of the room, beside which 
the hostess sat making and pouring tea. A friend 
sat opposite with the chocolate service. Small tables, 
hired for the purpose, were brought from an adjoin- 
ing room by the gentlemen, who then helped their 
partners to refreshments which they took from the 
center table. It was a pretty and unceremonious 
way of serving that was greatly enjoyed by all con- 
cerned. The servant retired after having brought in 
refreshments, but remained within call in case she 
should be needed to help with the tea or chocolate. 
As the guests finished eating, the ''chief justice," as 
the elderly gentleman was called, stepped forward 
and presented pretty souvenir booklets, in the shape 
of palettes, to the gentleman and lady who had won 
most medals. The others v/ho held medals received 
daintily decorated palettes. 



90 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Tiny easels would also have been appropriate sou- 
venirs. 

Where something more expensive is desired, gold 
watch charms and bangle pins in palette shape are 
suitable. Also pencil cases or books of engravings. 

When there is an objection to prizes, let the medals 
suffice, or give a buttonhole bouquet. 

The latter part of the evening was devoted to com- 
bination pictures. Strips of book paper had been 
procured from a publishing house. They were five 
inches in width and two yards long, and each strip 
was rolled into a neat bundle. One of these bundles 
was given to each player, who was instructed to draw 
a head of some animal, then turn the paper so as to 
conceal the head, but leave a small portion of the 
neck visible. The papers were then passed to the 
next left-hand neighbor, and bodies to the animals 
were drawn next. Again the papers were folded 
over and passed along, and legs and feet were added. 
The picture was now supposed to be complete, and 
was folded from view. The papers were passed 
along, and upon each was written the words, **I am," 
followed by the name of some person or animal. This 
was folded under, and the next person WTote, **I 
am to be found," adding any place that occurred to 
him. 

The next person wrote something characteristic, 
the next a description, and the last told what the ani- 
mal was good for. The leader then took the papers 
and read the bits of natural history aloud, passing 
them to the judges, who passed them on to the artists 



A DRAWING ATTRACTION. 91 

who, of course, were anxious to view the results of 
their combined efforts. 

One picture showed the head of a man on the neck 
of a giraffe, supported by the body of a horse with 
only two legs, ending in two dainty boots. Under- 
neath was written, "I am a rhinoceros. I am to be 
be found in the Queen's drawing room. I carry 
babies to the mountains in my talons. I have a 
striped back and a powerful odor, and I am used for 
food in the Arctic regions." 

By the time these papers had all been examined 
and laughed over, it was discovered that the hour 
was late, and there was a general leave-taking of the 
guests, all of whom seemed well pleased with the 
"drawing" attraction to which they had devoted an 
evening. 



A HALLOWE'EN PARTY. 



Of late years Hallowe'en has been very generally 
celebrated in this country, but not with the pretty 
simplicity that characterizes its celebration in Scot- 
land and Ireland. Here it is too often spoiled by 
becoming merely a dancing party, where the young 
people are chaperoned, and everything is supposed 
to go on in strict accordance with the laws laid down 
by Dame Grundy. Such a celebration of the wonder- 
ful "thirty-first night" deserves the ridicule of every- 
one whose heart has a youthful throb left in it! Hal- 
lowe'en parties should always be given up to omens 
and fortune-telling, and, of course, there should be 
one or two first class ghost stories. 

One lady, past middle life, arranged such a party 
not long ago for the friends of her niece and nephew, 
and it proved beyond a doubt that her heart was 
quite as young as it was thirty years ago. 

The invitation cards were decorated with a tiny 
candlestick holding a lighted taper, which was paint- 
ed in the upper left-hand corner. Just twelve 
couples were invited, for that is considered the magic 

92 



A HALLOWE'EN PARTY. 93 

number for such parties. The house was beautifully 
decorated with autumn leaves and flowers, and a fine 
fire burned in the fireplace. 

The guests were informed in a note accompanying 
the invitations that they must come attired in sheets 
and pillow cases in honor of the ghosts; for every one 
knows that they usually appear to enjoy the festiv- 
ities of this eve of all saints. When the guests ar- 
rived the hostess pinned a distinctive bow of ribbon 
or a silken rosette, or one of lace upon the pillow case 
worn by each, where it could be plainly seen. No 
two were alike. They were to be used to designate 
the guests, on the cards which each held, for prizes 
were to be given the lady and gentleman who guessed 
the largest number of wearers of the badges. Guesses 
were written on the cards something like this: 'Tink 
bow, Miss Robinson." ''Black rosette, Mr. Crane.'* 

The guests were ushered into the dining-room — a 
large room with hard wood floor, from which all the 
rugs had been removed. There was but one lamp, 
and this was heavily shaded, the dancing firelight 
furnishing all the illumination needed. The guests 
were seated in a circle, and the old game, ''Quaker 
Meeting" was announced as the one most appropriate 
for ghosts. The hostess whispered in the ear of each 
some duty which he must perform, having due regard 
to the limitations of the sheet and pillow cases. When 
she had made the round of the circle, she stood in the 
center and silently pointed to some one, who must 
silently arise and follow the instructions that had 
been whispered into his ear. No matter how ridicu- 



94: MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

lous his performance might be, no one was allowed 
to laugh, unless willing to pay the penalty of a for- 
feit, for this was to be an old-fashioned forfeit game. 

The hostess had given some thought to the instruc- 
tions before the guests arrived, so that no two were 
required to do the same thing, while all were ridicu- 
lous. One gentleman was told to mount a chair, 
clap his arms to his sides and crow. When it is re- 
membered that he was attired in a sheet and pillow 
case, and that he must do his best to avoid being 
recognized, it will be seen what a difficult and ludi- 
crous task had been set him. A lady was told to 
hitch up **Pink-bow" and Black-rosette'* and drive 
them around the room. She was not allowed to 
speak a word to any one while doing so, and the two 
parties designated were at opposite sides of the room. 

She led out one, then started for the other, when 
the first, thinking she was through with him, march- 
ed back to his seat. Then she resorted to vigorous 
pantomime to make Number Two understand that 
she must remain in the middle of the room until she 
brought Number One back again. Then she fastened 
a long scarf about them both, induced them to clasp 
hands, took a feather duster for a whip, caught hold 
of a corner of the sheet worn by each and triumph- 
antly drove her prancing steeds about the room. A 
number of forfeits were collected before this lady's 
performance was ended, for it was almost impossible 
not to laugh. 

When each had performed the task assigned him, 
and the forfeits had been redeemed, a woman of 



A HALLOWE'EN PARTY. 95 

witch-like appearance was brought into the room and 
seated by the fireplace where the firelight played 
about her most fantastically. She was introduced 
as the Witch of Endor, and the "ghosts'* were in- 
formed that they were to take turns kneeling before 
her, that their fortunes might be read from their 
open paims. 

The **Witch" was a professional palmist, who had 
previously been instructed net to say anything that 
could possibly cast a shadow over the party or any 
member of it. When one young man stepped for- 
ward and his ''Fortune" was told as if he were a girl, 
there was much laughter; but when the masks were 
removed, and it was seen that it was really a girl 
in bicycle garb, and wearing her big brother's shoes, 
they had to confess that the "Witch" had the best of 
it. 

When every one's fortune had been told, the guest 
cards were collected, and then there was a general 
removing of masks. The cards were examined and 
prizes awarded, and then the guests were all escorted 
to dressing rooms on the second floor, where they 
could make themselves presentable for the remainder 
of the evening. 

When they returned to the dining-room, they found 
a long table spread with good things, and upon every 
plate was a name card, done in water colors, which 
was intended as a souvenir. 

Among the refreshments provided there was a 
"dumb-cake," without which no Hallowe'en party 
would be complete. The peculiarities of the 



96 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

dumb-cake consist in its being made and eaten 
in perfect silence. The hostess assured her guests 
that not a word had been spoken during the 
making of the cake, and it rested with themselves 
to remain silent during the eating of it. It was 
a heavy fruit cake, into which several rings, half 
dimes, pearl buttons, besides two thimbles, had 
been placed with the fruit. The cake was cut 
into as many pieces as there were guests. Those 
who got a ring were soon to be married; the one get- 
ting the ring that was different from the others was 
to be married first. Those who got the half dimes 
were to be very wealthy. Those who got the buttons 
were never to be married at all. The thimbles de- 
noted that the possessors would always have to work 
for others. Those who found nothing but fruit in 
their cake were destined to lead peaceful, happy lives, 
and join a religious society before they died. 

When the dumb-cake had been eaten, apples were 
passed, each guest being solemnly enjoined to take 
one. They were pared in utter silence, the greatest 
care being taken to have the paring come off in one 
long strip. This was thrown over the head, and the 
letter it formed on the floor was the first initial of 
the true love's name. Then the apple was cut. The 
number of pieces into which it could be cut without 
falling apart on the table decided the wealth of the 
one who cut it. Each piece was supposed to represent 
a thousand dollars. One girl had the misfortune to 
cut hers so badly that both pieces flew apart at once. 
This meant that she would be very poor, and would 



A HALLOWE'EN PARTY. 97 

have to be cared for by her relatives and friends. Had 
she been able to keep the two halfs together until she 
could cut again, she would have been worth two 
thousand dollars, even had the pieces fallln apart 
with the second attempt. For every seed cut during 
this operation, there would be a bitter disappoint- 
ment. 

The whole seeds were then collected and counted, 
and given the name of some person whose first initial 
corresponded with that which the apple paring was 
supposed to represent. The idea was to determine 
the amount of affection existing between the two, 
and for this purpose the following jingle was re- 
peated: 

One, I love; two, I love; 

Three, I love, they say. 

Four, I love with all my heart, 

And five I cast away. 

Six, he loves; seven, she loves; 

Eight, they both love. 

Nine, he comes; ten. he tarries; 

Eleven he courts and tv»^elve he marries. 

If there chanced to be eight whole seeds, the pros- 
pect for a wedding was fairly good; but twelve was 
always hoped for. 

Next, two seeds were chosen from the pile, and 
each given a name having the first initial like that on 
the floor. These seeds were placed one on each eye- 
lid, to see which would cling longer through a pro- 
cess of vigorous winking. 

When this part of the ceremony was concluded, the 
merry guests left the table. While the dishes were 
being removed, each guest placed three hazel nuts 



98 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

on the hearth, giving them the name's of three favor- 
ites among their acquaintances. The ones that jump 
or burst will be faithless as sweethearts; but those 
which remain to blaze or burn will be true forever. 
A long tin bath tub filled with water was then 
placed in the middle of the room on the floor. The 
guests took the empty half shells of English walnuts, 
which they filled with melted white wax, into which 
oil of cloves had been dropped while melting. As 
each shell was filled a short piece of coarse cotton 
cord or candle wicking was placed in the center. 
Each of these barques was then marked so as to be 
recognized by the owner, the cotton was lighted, and 
they were set floating simultaneously in the tub of 
water, and the tub was jarred a little to give them 
motion. Should two boats approach each other, and 
continue the journey together as long as the lights 
burned, it was considered a good sign that their own- 
ers would do likewise. The light that went out first 
indicated the one that would die first. Should the 
other approach some other boat, it foretold a second 
marriage. Should both overturn without apparent 
reason, death by accident was predicted. Should 
they sputter and burn unevenly, it was a sure sign of 
an unhappy marriage. If a light sputtered and went 
out long before the others, a short and unhappy ca- 
reer was predicted. If it went out before joining 
another, the owner would never marry; but if it 
sailed along independently, burning brightly and 
evenly, it foretold marriage with one who was as yet 
a stranger, although there might be brief love affairs 



A HALLOWE'EN PARTY. 99 

with one or more of those present. A boat that re- 
fused to move from where it was first placed proved 
that its owner would never travel and never be well 
off or famous. Two boats jostling each other in- 
dicated an early and serious quarrel between their 
owners. The indications were so easily read, and 
the many barques wove so curious a web of destiny, 
that qtiite a length of time passed so quickly in this 
way as to fill the guests with surprise. 

Then followed a few more well-known Hallowe'en 
charms — such as running around the block, walking 
down cellar backwards while holding a lighted candle 
over the head, and pouring melted lead into cold 
water to find the initials of the lover's name. 

Four cups were then placed on the table, one con- 
taining vinegar, one grape juice, one milk, and the 
fourth being empty. The guests were then blind- 
folded, one at a time, and told to walk to the table 
and stick a finger into one of the cups, which was ar- 
ranged after he had been blindfolded. If he stuck 
his finger into the vinegar, he would be cross and 
disagreeable in married life; if into the grape juice, 
he would be agreeable, but would desert his partner; 
if into the milk, he would be a model to all other 
married people; but if into the empty cup, he would 
die unmarried. 

The young people were then asked to seat them- 
selves before the fireplace, and all the lights were ex- 
tinguished, so that the room was only lighted by the 
fire in the grate. Two ghosts suddenly appeared, 
their long white garments fioating around them most 



100 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

uncannily, and their faces veiled with gossamer. 
They were pupils from a school of oratory, who had 
been hired for the occasion, and were strangers to 
all present. They came to tell of the fearful manner 
in which their lives had ended, and how they must 
haunt the earth until certain events had transpired. 
Their story was quite blood-curdling, and tended to 
illustrate the awful consequences of fickleness on the 
part of lovers who had sworn to be true to each 
other. 

One of the ghosts had a very realistic wail that 
was used in appropriate places, causing the chills to 
creep up and down the backs of the listeners, al- 
though not one of them was under seventeen years of 
age. 

When the story was ended the entertainment was 
closed with a few jolly songs to drive away the spir- 
its and send the guests home in a courageous frame 
of mind; for it was two o'clock in the morning and 
the world was very quiet. 



OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENTS. 



Americans are just beginning to realize the desira- 
bility of the outdoor entertainment as a social func- 
tion, but it bids fair to become popular with aston- 
ishing rapidity. Already ladies of means whose 
rooms are not large enough for the entertainment of 
many guests at a time, and whose health will not 
permit the excitement of giving enough small parties 
to take in all their friends, look forward to the sum- 
mer season, when they can cancel their indebtedness 
to society with some outdoor entertainment. Those 
who do not have fine homes hire a steamboat for a 
day, when near a lake or navigable river, and take 
their friends on a little excursion. Light refresh- 
ments are usually served on the boat, and a hearty 
meal provided at some hotel where arrangements 
have, of course, been previously made by the 
hostess, who makes out the menu, oversees the deco- 
rations, if necessary, plans the seating of the guests 
and supervises everything as she would had she been 
giving a dinner in her own home. This is usually 
attended to several days before that on which the 

101 



102 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

party is to be given, and is a form of entertainment 
to which one's friends are very anxious to be invited. 
Indeed, they will often break a previous engagement 
rather than offer it as an excuse for remaining away 
from an excursion of this character. 

Ladies wear boating suits and meet the hostess at 
the boat on the hour appointed, w^hen she welcomes 
them exactly as if she were in her own parlors. 

When an absence of water makes steamboat parties 
an impossibility, the coaching party will be found 
quite as acceptable. Some point of interest within 
an easy drive is made the destination, and dinner is 
served there at the expense of the hostess, who has 
arranged everything beforehand. She arranges who 
is to ride together in the several coaches, furnishes 
the drivers with their addresses, and instructs them 
to call for the guests and meet the others at an ap- 
pointed place and time, that all may go on together. 

Frequently the point of interest to be visited is 
far from an hotel where guests can be served nicely, 
and an outdoor lunch is resorted to. In that case a 
large covered camping wagon filled with provisions, 
rugs, hammocks, tents and everything that a 
thoughtful hostess provides for the comfort of her 
guests at such a time, is sent on in advance of the 
party, who find everything in readiness upon their 
arrival. 



The bicycle party is a much more simple and less 
expensive form of entertainment, but, of course, is 
not much favored by any but the young people. 



OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENTS. 103 

The party ride their wheels to some point of interest, 
where they have dinner at the expense of their host 
and hostess, rest a while and then return to the home 
of the hostess for refreshments and a social evening. 
Frequently they meet at the home of the hostess, 
from where they start on a short ride of an hour or 
more, returning to the house for the evening enter- 
tainment as before. 

At one such party the hostess had provided cards 
for her friends, on each of which twenty-three bicycle 
conundrums had been written, space being left for the 
replies. A "mark of punctuation" was guessed to be 
^'brackets;" ''Little Bostons" was, of course, guessed 
as hubs. These conundrums are not as hard to get 
up as they are to guess; any one with a fair knowl- 
edge of the bicycle will do both after a little study 
that will prove most pleasant and profitable. 



To give a garden party, one must have a nice lawn, 
shade trees, hammocks, camp chairs, small tables, 
Japanese lamps, rugs, awnings, cozy nooks, summer 
houses, etc. Musicians should be concealed in the 
arbor or summer house, but not so near as to make 
conversation difficult. 

The invitations should be sent a week in advance of 
the party, and are usually for from five to ten in the 
evening. The almanac should be consulted before- 
hand, in order to make reasonably sure of a full 
moon. 

The refreshments provided are much like those 
served at the invitation picnic, consisting of sand- 



lOi MODERN ENTERTAiNLIENTS. 

wiches, pickles, salad, fruit, cake, hot coffee, tea and 
chocolate. Unless one has plenty of dishes, tables, 
etc., it is better to serve only such refreshments as 
may be eaten with the aid of a knife and fork. It is 
a nice idea, when practicable, to have the alcohol 
stove on the piazza or some other convenient place, 
and make the tea and chocolate as it is served. 



The gridiron parties, so popular with the Prince of 
Wales and the smart upper Bohemian set of London, 
are beginning to be introduced here, but as an out- 
door entertainment instead of a drawing-room affair. 
In London the hostess herself must do the cooking, 
and dainty silver gridirons are used by these aes- 
thetic chefs, who wear fine white aprons over their 
handsome gowns. Here several ladies possessing al- 
cohol stoves are invited to help the hostess receive. 
The cooking is done on the lawn, the stoves being 
shielded from draughts by pretty awnings, and every- 
thing that can be cooked on a gridiron or m a chafing 
dish or kettle is served at these parties. It is not un- 
usual to see a group of hungry young people 
grouped around a gridiron quite oblivious to every- 
thing but the broiling of a chop or steak. A maid 
should be at hand to wash the soiled dishes, v/hich 
she carries away as fast as they accumulate. The 
food is prepared so slowly that, when there is a large 
company, a great part of the time for which the 
guests are invited is devoted to the cooking and the 
serving of the refre«hments. and other methods of en- 
tertainment are seldom provided. This is one of the 



OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENTS. 105 

jolliest and most unconventional ways of entertaining 
— the hopes, doubts and anxieties as to the results of 
the work being done usually furnishing topics for the 
most animated conversation, wherein no one need 
feel that he is appearing stupid or ridiculous. 



Lawn tennis parties, croquet parties, etc., are sim- 
ply another form of the garden party. The guests 
appear in outing suits, however, whereas they wear 
dainty afternoon gowns of summer fabric at the gar- 
den party proper. Matches are arranged and prizes 
offered for victories gained in whatever outdoor sport 
is chosen. 

Where there is no tennis court, simple games are 
adopted. At one such party a stake was driven into 
the ground and the guests, blindfolded in turn, made 
an attempt to touch it with a stick. Bouquets were 
given to those who succeeded in a given length of 
time. As they had been whirled around three times 
after having been blindfolded, not many succeeded, 
but the efforts made by the others were extremely 
laughable, and added to the enjoyment of the party. 
There are many such simple games suitable for these 
outdoor parties, and one need not hesitate about pro- 
posing them, for there are few, however conventional 
they may be, who will not enjoy them when once they 
have been started. 

The ever-delightful festival of roses has for many 
years been a source of income for charitable pur- 
poses, but only of late years has it been utilized as a 
means of canceling one's social indebtedness. 



106 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

To give this entertainment successfully, there must 
first of all be an abundance of roses. Booths should 
be erected on the lawn, each decorated with roses, 
and Japanese lanterns should be strung between the 
booths and trees. Paper roses help wonderfully in 
decorating, but they should be used where they can- 
not be readily detected from the real roses. They 
are better than natural roses for nooks where it is 
especially desired that they should not wilt or become 
displaced. 

At one such entertainment one booth was erected 
for musicians and another, near by, for dancers. In 
a third refreshments were served, and a number of 
smaller ones were fitted up for tete-a-tetes. 

At still another, where dancing was not in favor, 
each booth was devoted to some different attraction — 
a phonograph being in one, a gramophone in another, 
palmists, astrologers and those w^ho tell fortunes by 
cards being placed in others. 

At a third there was but one booth beside those 
fitted up for refreshments, and this v;as divided into 
a stage and dressing-rooms. The acoustic properties 
of this stage were so good that the actors therein 
were easily heard by the guests, who were scattered 
about the lawn. The fine and varied programme 
given on the rose-embowered stage closed an enter- 
tainment not soon to be forgotten by those so fortu- 
nate as to be in attendance. It was a social event of 
which the hostess had every right to be very proud. 

Strawberries should have a prominent place on the 
bills of fare planned for a festival of roses, and cake 



OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENTS. 107 

made in pink and white layers, or white cake with 
pink frosting, should be provided. Serve pink lem- 
onade, or lemonade in which there are crushed straw- 
berries and a little pineapple. 



In no form of entertainment may originality be 
so safely displayed as in outdoor parties. There are 
no established laws or customs, and a hostess need 
have little fear of doing things that will proclaim her 
ignorance of social ethics. The more original she is 
the larger will be the attendance at her parties. 

In outdoor parties, as in other forms of entertain- 
ment, a vast amount of money may be spent if the 
hostess so desires, but unlike them, these entertain- 
ments may also be given very satisfactorily at little 
cost. 



BREAKFASTS. 



The society breakfast given to one's friends is 
usually less formal and much jollier than the lunch- 
eon. It is served at eleven o'clock in the morning, 
and both gentlemen and ladies are invited. It is pop- 
ular among artists and literary people for one reason, 
because they are not obliged to dress elaborately, but 
may be as informal as they like. 

A number of small tables, or one large one, may 
be used when serving these breakfasts. The food 
selected should be quite hearty, but lighter than that 
served at the formal lunch. Breakfasts are fre- 
quently begun with bouillon, and finished with an 
elaborate dessert. 

This is one of the accepted ways of doing honor to 
a person of distinction, or of introducing a literary or 
artistic person who is a stranger to others of his 
craft, and so there is always a little informal recep- 
tion before the breakfast is served. 

The hostess should wear a handsome white morn- 
ing gown. The guests come in tea gowns or matinees 
with dark skirts, or, if they are young, they wear 

108 



BREAKFASTS. 109 

their bicycle or tennis suits. Should any of the guests 
appear in street suits, they need not feel at all out 
of place. Indeed in summer the pretty home dresses 
of lawn or percale are seen as frequently as any other 
costume. 

Guests are usually seated without the formality of 
guest cards, and the rooms are not decorated for the 
occasion, although flowers should be seen on the 
table. 



LUNCHEONS. 



Among the most popular and delightful entertain- 
ments are the luncheons, the two great faults to be 
found with them being that they seldom include gen- 
tlemen and they tend to extravagance. When first 
introduced as a form of entertainment, they were 
more hospitable than elaborate; now they are more 
elaborate than hospitable. Instead of being invited 
quite informally to meet one whom our hostess is sure 
would prove companionable, we now understand that 
a social duty is to be discharged in the most elab- 
orate style our hostess can command. 

A luncheon is very like a dinner, except that it is 
usually given at one o'clock. The guests wear their 
handsomest street costumes, and do not remove their 
bonnets; consequently care should be taken that the 
rooms are not too hot. The hostess brings out all 
her best linen, china and silver for the occasion, and 
it is not unusual for her to provide dainty souvenirs 
for the guests to take home. It is a pity that the 
giving of souvenirs was ever made a part of the 
luncheon, but it has been, and it begins to look as if 

110 



LUNCHEONS. Ill 

it were to become one of the most important parts. 
The only hope is that it will go so far and so rapidly 
that sensible people will become disgusted and abol- 
ish the souvenir fad entirely. 

It is considered bad taste to crowd the rooms or 
the tables. Invite no more than can be comfortably 
seated. 

Invitations to a luncheon are sent out a fortnight 
before. 

The following, written on note paper, is in good 
taste, although the carefully engraved cards are pre- 
ferred where they can be afforded: 

Mrs. Williamson 

Requests the pleasure of 

Mrs. Ward's 

company at lunch, on Thursday, October 15th, at 

1 o'clock. 

R. S. V. P. 

It is quite the fad to give luncheons for special oc- 
casions, such as Easter, Valentine or May Day, when, 
of course, the decorations and, in so far as that is 
possible, the menu, must be arranged with reference 
to the day on which the luncheon is to be given. Then 
there are rose luncheons, pansy luncheons, chrysan- 
themum luncheons, and, in fact, as many different 
varieties may be evolved as there are flowers. 

At an Easter luncheon given not long since, the 
parlors and dining-room were decorated with ferns 
and Easter lilies, and the hostess wore a white gown 
with a bunch of ferns and a lily in her belt. The 
dining table was left uncovered save for a handsome 
center-piece and plate doilies to match. On the center- 
piece there was a round mirror, bearing a beautiful 



112 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

bowl of lilies and ferns, and graceful bouquets of the 
same flowers were laid beside each plate. The sou- 
venir was simply the name card, which is usually 
placed upon the plate, that the guests may know 
where they are to sit, but each of these cards con- 
tained an appropriate verse, beautifully lettered, and 
a flower design, all done by hand, and the expense 
was not small. 

At another Easter luncheon the souvenir was a 
beautifully painted china eggshell filled with bon- 
bons. At still another it consisted of downy chickens 
filled with bonbons. 

At a valentine luncheon the name cards were paint- 
ed in water colors on white silk mull laid over pink 
satin, and were all emblematic — Cupids' hearts and 
darts being conspicuous. The heart forms figured as 
much as possible in the serving of refreshments. The 
center-piece was heart-shaped, and little Cupids were 
partially concealed among the flowers that were ar- 
ranged, heart-shaped, on a flat, round mirror laid on 
the center-piece. The refreshments were simple — 
such as were supposed to be appropriate for an occa- 
sion where love rules supreme. 

To give a flower luncheon, it is necessary to have 
everything match the color of the flower chosen in 
so far as that is possible. Quite often the windows 
are darkened, that the lamps may be lighted and their 
harmoniously colored shades shed the proper light 
over all. 

At a violet luncheon the souvenir was a dainty 
stick-pin in the form of a violet. The lamps were 



LUNCHEONS. 113 

dressed in elaborate shades of violet, the center-piece 
and doilies were worked in violet, and violets and 
Roman hyacinths were scattered everywhere, tiny 
bunches of them tied with violet ribbon being laid 
beside each plate. The name cards were in water 
colors, violets being conspicuous in the design. Violet 
candles in Dresden candelabra were on table a'nd 
mantel. A white cloth covered the table, a band of 
broad violet ribbon being extended across it diag- 
onally. 

A rose luncheon may be made the most beautiful 
of all entertainments because of the exquisite color- 
ing, that is becoming to nearly all ladies. 

A buttercup luncheon was once given to a party of 
ladies, all of whom were suffragists, and the name 
cards were in the form of badges, being painted on 
yellow ribbon. 

At a luncheon given to "White Ribboners" the dec- 
orations were daisies and white chrysanthemums, 
tied with white ribbon, and white ribbon was used ef- 
fectively in name cards and table decorations. 

A luncheon given in honor of a birthday should be 
distinguished by the flowers peculiar to the month. 

The menu is usually very much the same as for a 
dinner, perhaps a trifle less elaborate, but soup or 
roast should never be served. Some claim that oys- 
ters are also out of place, but oysters on the half- 
shell are often seen at luncheons given by the "Pour 
Hundred." Cups of hot bouillon are placed beside 
each plate Just before the guests are seated. 

It is not necessary to provide other entertainment, 



114 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

although an orchestra in an adjoining room, playing 
soft music, is often heard, and many ladies take this 
opportunity to introduce some talented friend, when 
there will be a very short programme of music and 
recitations as soon as the guests leave the table. 

Ladies' luncheons usually begin at one and end at 
three, and are an enjoyable form of entertainment, 
more especially for those who can seldom go out eve- 
nings on account of ill health, or because the gentle- 
men of the family are too busy to escort them. 



TEAS. 



Of all forms of entertainment, nothing is easier to 
provide than the five o'clock tea. This is so well rec- 
nized that it has become quite universal, and the for- 
mal five o'clock tea is quite frequently used as the 
method of introducing a daughter. 

For a long time the five o'clock tea was quite in- 
formal, simply being an opporunity for intimate 
friends to get together for a few moments' chat be- 
fore other society duties claimed them for the eve- 
ning. Now cards of invitation are sent out, and, on 
the appointed day, the hostess, with the lady who 
helps her receive, stands by the drawing-room door 
to greet each guest, who, after a few words, passes on. 

In an adjoining room there are two tables, each 
spread with a white cloth; on one is a tea service, 
on the other a service for chocolate. A vase of flow- 
ers should stand on each table, on which are also to 
be found plates of bread and butter, cut as thin as 
shavings, or toasted wafers. Fresh berries and cake 
may be added, if desired. Nothing else is permissible. 
Refreshments that might soil the gloves are not to 

115 



116 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

be thought of, for the guests do not remove their 
wraps. The ladies of the house wear pretty afternoon 
gowns. 

When both tea and chocolate are served, a lady 
should preside at each table, the hostess usually tak- 
ing the tea-table. 

When tea is served in the dining-room, the dining- 
table is used in preference to the two small tables, 
and the tea service and chocolate service are at oppo- 
site ends. 

The tea-kettle is boiled over an alcohol lamp stand- 
ing on the table, and the tea made as it is served. 

What is known as ''high tea" is usually given on 
Sunday afternoons, and takes the place of dinner. 
It may, of course, be given on any other afternoon. 
It is an invitation affair and most enjoyable. The 
hostess makes the tea as it is served, but instead of 
the thin slices of bread and butter there are hot rolls 
and butter, fried chicken, escalloped oysters or deli- 
cate slices of cold ham, cake and preserves. 

The five o'clock tea served informally is most en- 
joyable, and the most frequently given. There are 
no invitations, tea being served as callers come in. 
It is nice to have it on one's afternoons at home; 
indeed, it has become almost a necessity of late. In 
some houses the tea things are kept in the parlor, 
which, by the way, is not quite in good taste, unless 
arrangements are made whereby they can be concealed 
from view during the hours when tea is never served. 
In other homes, where but few servants are kept, the 
tea service is brought in and arranged before callers 



TEAS. 117 

begin to arrive. The way in which it is managed 
abroad is, however, preferred here by ladies who 
have sufficient help to make it possible. Exactly at 
five o'clock the servant places a small tea-table be- 
fore the hostess, spreads a white cover over it, then 
brings in a tray containing the tea service, and the 
plate of bread and butter and cake, or maccaroons, 
or toasted wafers, or the thin crackers known as 
zephyrettes. One lady always serves these zephyr- 
ettes and the most delicious cookies ever tasted. An- 
other always serves cheese straws and thin ginger 
snaps. Still another is known for the delicious bread 
sticks and maccaroons that are always served with 
her tea. The servant withdraws from sight as soon 
as the tea service is arranged, but remains within 
call, to remove soiled cups and bring clean ones, as 
desired. 

In some homes tea is served in this way every after- 
noon, and friends are always welcome, and sure of 
some pleasant acquaintance. These homes usually 
contain two or more lady members, who seldom all 
leave home together. 

In the majority of homes in this country afternoon 
tea is not often served except on the "at home" days. 

The tea-table should harmonize with the other 
furnishings of the room. The cloth spread upon it 
is usually quite elaborately embroidered. There 
should be an under shelf for the reception of the 
soiled cups that should be covered with a cloth to 
match. The tea-kettle may be heated on a stand 
placed on a table, but one resting on a small support- 



118 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

ing stand will be found more convenient, therefore 
better. Besides cups, saucers, spoons, sugar bowl, 
cream pitcher, sugar tongs and tea caddy, you will 
want a pretty slop bowl, a tea strainer, a tea cozy, a 
match holder and a cut glass bottle for the alcohol 
used for fuel. These should, of course, be as hand- 
some as your means will allow, and all should har- 
monize exquisitely, no matter what their price may be. 

There is another tea that is really more of a recep- 
tion, which usually has some designating word pre- 
ceding it in the title. 

Those who frequent church socials are familiar 
with the "Pink Tea," ''Blue Tea," "Yellow Tea," etc., 
but many have not become acquainted with it as a 
form of entertainment in private homes. 

These teas are always invitation affairs. The des- 
ignating word used in the invitation tells the guest 
what color will be used in decorating the rooms and 
the table. The hostess and those whom she chooses 
to help her receive usually wear the same color, and 
the guests either wear something of the same color 
or something that harmonizes nicely. The refresh- 
ments, while light, are more varied than at the ordi- 
nary tea, and guests remove their hats before entering 
the room. Ordinarily tea is served from seven to 
nine, after which guests may fill appointments for the 
evening. This is almost a reception, but less formal, 
and gives a fine opportunity for introducing a 
daughter or a guest from out of town, who is to re- 
main some time and for whom the hostess desires in- 
vitations. 



TEAS. 119 

To serve this tea nicely, several small tables should 
be provided, each presided over by a lady of the 
household or an intimate friend, and chairs should 
be at hand that guests may seat themselves at one 
of the tables when ready to be served. A maid should 
be at hand to remove soiled dishes and napkins and 
provide fresh ones, as desired. 

To make any afternoon tea delightful, the guests 
must come, not because it is a social duty, but be- 
cause they always enjoy themselves so much that 
they never dream of remaining away. This is never 
the case unless the hostess is hospitable at heart. She 
must have the same feeling that prompted her grand- 
mother to invite her friends to bring their work and 
stay all the afternoon, so as to have a **good, old- 
fashioned talk." Grandmother usually had supper 
ready at five o'clock. A second cup of tea was poured 
after the men folks left the table, and hostess and 
guest sipped it slowly while they enjoyed the best part 
of the day together. That was really the beginning of 
the five o'clock tea. It has become of importance be- 
cause it was started on a foundation of real friendli- 
ness and genuine hospitality; but its decline has 
begun, if one may judge by the air of freezing formal- 
ity that characterizes most of the society functions 
known as "Teas." 

Dear friends, do have a proper regard for one of 
our most ancient and respected of entertainments, 
and don't give an afternoon tea of any description 
unless you have inherited a little of your grand- 
mother's hospitality! 



DINNERS. 



A dinner has become so formal and so important 
a form of entertainment that it cannot be fairly dealt 
with in a book like this. Every well-selected library 
has its book on dinner-giving, and every up-to-date 
book store will show you books by the dozen on this 
all-important subject. So these remarks will simply 
be thrown out as suggestions to the timid young wife 
who is about to give her first dinner. 

The menu must be considered even before the invi- 
tations are thought of. The usual courses are as 
follows: Oysters, soup, fish, roast, poultry and game, 
entrees, salads, sorbet, dessert. These may be brought 
on in many courses, or simply in four or five, as the 
hostess prefers. Following will be found a copy of a 
menu taken from the White House at the close of a 
dinner once given there: 

Oysters on the Half Shell. 

Consomme. 

Fried Smelts. Sause Tartare. Duchess Potatoes. 

Sherry. Boned Capon. Roast Ham. Champagne. Sauce. 

Madeira. Sweet-breads. Braise. Quails. Claret. 

Port. Broiled Woodcock. Canvas-back Duck. 

Chambertin. 

Cauliflower. Spinnach. French Peas. Stewed Tomatoes. 

Chateau Yquem. 

Frozen Pudding. Biscuits Diplomats. Assorted Cakes. 

Fruit. Brandy. Coffee. Cordials. 

120 



DINNERS. 121 

A simpler menu served in four courses at a most 

successful dinner was as follows: 

Bouillon. 

Broiled Whitefish. Mashed Potatoes. 

Roast Beef. Roast Pheasant. Salad of Fresh Tomatoes. 

Glazed Onions. Cauliflower. 

Custard. Fruit. Ices. 

Coffee. 

One will not give many dinners before discovering 
that, although it is important that the food should be 
well selected, well cooked and well served, it is no 
less important that the guests should be well selected 
and well placed at the table. The trials and vexations 
of dinner-giving are manifold, but the triumph, when 
achieved, more than repays one because, since there 
are few who can give successful dinners, it is consid- 
ered worth while to strive to be one of the few. 

The dinner hour is usually set somewhere between 
seven and nine o'clock, and every one should endeav- 
or to arrive in time. It sometimes lasts three and 
four hours, but guests should really not be kept seat- 
ed more than an hour and a half. Gentlemen should 
always appear in full dress. Ladies are usually seen 
decollette in fine society, but not necessarily so; they 
should, however, be as handsomely dressed as their 
wardrobe will allow. 

Music and recitations may follow the dinner, when 
the guests should delay their departure in order to 
hear them. Otherwise they should take their leave 
as soon after leaving the table as they can do so 
gracefully. 

For a formal dinner the invitations should be en- 
graved in the regulation style. For little informal 



122 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

dinners a cordial note written in the first person is 
better. For instance, it might be something as fol- 
lows: 

Dear Mrs. Hamilton: Will you and Mr. Hamilton 
dine with us on Thursday, the twentieth, at half-past 
seven, to meet Mr. and Mrs. Gray quite informally? Sin- 
cerely yours, Carrie Carlyle. 

The hostess often provides dinner cards on which 
poetical quotations, conundrums, etc., are inscribed, 
in order to give her guests something to talk about, 
and thus provide against dullness. If possible, one 
or two good conversationalists— those who are witty 
being preferred — should be invited. There are many 
newspaper jokes about the professional diner-out; 
nevertheless, he is often quite indispensable to 
the successful dinner, for there are few guests who 
can make themselves entertaining at such times, no 
matter how vivacious they may be on other occa- 
sions. 

One hostess adopted the plan of having a general 
change of partners at the end of each course, the la- 
dies keeping their seats, but the gentlemen being 
required to move three seats to the left. This had 
the desired effect, so far as sprightliness of conversa- 
tion was concerned, but they who like formality com- 
plain that it lacks dignity, and so few have followed 
her plan. When, however, the hostess feels convinced 
that, of all the persons invited, only the dullest or 
those least congenial to each other are to be present, 
she might try this plan, and save her dinner from 
being classed among the dismal failures. 

Most of those who give dinners will tell you that 



, DINNERS. 123 

only a small proportion of the Invitations sent out 
are accepted, for this is a busy world, and most people 
find it impossible to keep up with all the social de- 
mands. So it is quite possible that you will discover, 
at almost the last moment, that those upon whom you 
had most depended to sustain conversation are not 
to be present. You should, therefore, take no steps 
toward dinner-giving until you have decided what to 
do in such an emergency, and to decide this you must 
read what literature you can find on the subject, in 
order to know what others have done. 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 



Wedding anniversaries offer the best of opportuni- 
ties for the informal entertainment of one's friends, 
and this fact is becoming more and more recognized 
every year. Only relatives and those who are consid- 
ered friends should be invited. When mere acquaint- 
ances are sent invitations, it makes the affair look too 
much like a polite way of asking for a gift. This is 
felt so much by people of refined tastes that we fre- 
quently see cards of invitation to a wedding anni- 
versary bearing the words, *'No Gifts," a custom that 
is becoming popular for the wedding itself. It is a 
pleasure to mark the years of wedded life by enter- 
taining one's friends, and it is a pity to deprive one's 
self of this pleasure because of the gift question. 

One couple solved the diffxculty by sending notes of 
invitation instead of cards, when their silver wedding 
was to be celebrated, in which they explained that no 
gifts were to be purchased, but silver coin would be 
acceptable, provided not more than a dollar was of- 
fered by any one person. The couple were so well off 
that they could not be accused of being mercenary, 
yet considerable curiosity was aroused. A beautiful 

]2t 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 125 

box stood in a conspicuous place, and guests were 
directed to deposit their offerings therein. It was 
afterward learned that the money was to be used to 
pay the expenses of a motherless girl who desired to 
attend business college, and every one felt that an 
anniversary could not have been more fittingly cele- 
brated. 

The cards of invitation issued for these anniversa- 
ries are all pretty much alike as to wording. They 
bear the date of the wedding and the present date, 
and may or may not bear the maiden name of the 
wife. The following is considered good style: 

1873. 1898. 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barker, 

at Home May Tenth, 1898. 

Silver Wedding. 

1204 Vine Place. 

at eight o'clock. 

This style is also good: 

1873. 1898. 

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barker 

request the pleasure of your company, 

on Wednesday, May Tenth, 

at eight o'clock. 

Silver Wedding. 

Henry Barker. Mary Wells. 

If possible the bride dresses in her wedding gar- 
ments, and the ceremony is performed just as it had 
been the first time. As many as possible of one's 
oldest acquaintances should be present, to have the 
celebration entirely satisfactory, and when the same 
pastor and the same bridesmaids can be present, the 
entertainment is sure to be satisfactory. 

A professional decorator says that green and white 
should be the color scheme for wooden weddings, 



126 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

pink and white for tin weddings, red for crystal wed- 
dings, blue for linen weddings, silver and rose color 
for silver weddings, and yellow for golden weddings. 

In decorating the rooms special attention should be 
given the background of the bridal couple during 
the ceremony, just as is done for first weddings. In- 
deed, many times these anniversaries are much more 
elaborate than the first one had been — bridesmaids, 
groomsmen, ushers, maids of honor, flower girls, etc., 
all being present, and the general hilarity of the occa- 
sion is not lessened when these important personages 
are not informed of the honor to be imposed upon 
them until shortly before the performance of the cere- 
mony. 

The wedding cake, with the hidden ring, is usually 
seen at these anniversary weddings, although it does 
not so often appear at the real wedding, because the 
guests do not care to soil their gloves hunting for the 
ring. 

* 41 * * ♦ * 

The wooden wedding is the first of the anniversary 
entertainments to be recognized. It celebrates the 
fifth anniversary day. 

It is customary to have the invitations written on 
birch bark, or done in fancy letters on thin board. 
Sheets of thin wood may be purchased for this pur- 
pose. Wooden dishes are used in serving refresh- 
ments, and the name cards are of wood. The rooms 
are decorated to give as rustic an appearance as pos- 
sible. 

The first of the evening is given to the informal re- 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 127 

ception of the guests and to the wedding and con- 
gratulations, after which the guests are ushered into 
the dining-room. 

The latter part of the evening may be devoted to 
any form of entertainment prepared by the hostess. 
When dancing is not to be on the programme, the 
hostess should arrange this beforehand, and should 
proceed to carry out her plans immediately upon the 
return of the guests from the dining-room. 

On the particular occasion about to be described, 
the guests were supplied with cards and pencils upon 
their return to the parlors, then small blocks of wood 
were passed around, each having a number pasted 
upon it. There were as many numbers written down 
the left side of the cards as there were blocks, and 
the guests were asked to write the name of each block 
of wood on their cards, opposite the number it bore. 
Some of the blocks were highly polished, some left 
natural. Some were taken from the limb of the tree, 
others from the trunk, and many of the guests, seeing 
the two blocks from the same tree, did not recognize 
their relationship. The hostess had been a long time 
gathering these blocks, and nearly every kind of 
wood was represented, forming an interesting and 
curious study at any time, and a particularly appro- 
priate form of entertainment for a wooden wedding. 
When all the blocks had been examined by the guests 
the hostess read from a list she had prepared of the 
correct names, and cards were marked accordingly, 
the one making the most correct guesses receiving 
first prize, which was, of course, of wood. 



128 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Next, sheets of paper were passed among the guests 
containing the following names of thirteen trees: 

1. A solid, tenacious, easily molded substance, and a 
part of the hand. 

2. A ruminant quadruped of the feminine gender. 

3. To show grief, and a machine in which cotton, wool 
or flax is opened and cleansed. 

4. Neat, without elegance or dignity. 

5. Ill, ill, ill. 

6. A nick-name, a vowel and an external covering. 

7. Used for puddings and a part of the hand. 

8. A near and dear relative. 

9. A vegetable and a Scottish word denoting possession. 

10. A partner, came together, and a part of the human 
body. 

11. A green muskmelon pickled. 

12. A drink, and a lineal measure. 

13. A coat or covering. 

The list read by the hostess, from which the differ- 
ent papers were corrected, was as follows: 

1. Wax palm. 

2. Yew. 

3. Weeping willow. 

4. Spruce. 

5. Sycamore. 

6. Tamarind. 

7. Sago palm. 
8 Paw-paw. 
9. Plantain. 

10. Palmetto. 

11. Mango. 

12. Cocoa palm. 

13. Fir. 

A similar list of better-known trees may easily be 
made, if preferred. 

When the one guessing the most of the hidden trees 
had received his prize — a carved photograph frame — 
a game of an entirely different nature was started, 
for the guests* were tired of sitting still. Four rows 
of wooden soldiers, four in a row, were placed at one 
end of the room. They were each ten inches in 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 12^ 

height, ahd bore a number on the front of their uni- 
forms, and they were fastened to narrow strips of 
board that enabled them to stand quite firmly. Sides 
were chosen, dividing the guests into two parties, and 
then all took turns in rolling a wooden ball across 
the floor, with the intention of knocking over one or 
more of the soldiers. 

Tally was kept under the name of each leader. If 
the person rolled the ball without hitting a soldier^ 
ten was deducted from the leader's score card. If it 
touched the soldier, but without sufficient force to 
knock it over, but five was deducted. For every sol- 
dier knocked over, the leader who had chosen the 
player counted as many points as were indicated on 
the fallen soldier's uniform. The sixteen soldiers 
were numbered, respectively, five, ten, fifteen, tw^enty, 
and so on up to eighty, and they were placed, at the 
beginning of the game, without regard to their num- 
bers. The excitement increased toward the last of 
the game, when there were few soldiers left standing, 
and every failure subtracted from the score card. The 
party who was successful in bringing down the last 
soldier not only counted the number he bore, but one 
hundred in addition. The side winning two out of 
three games — that is, having the largest count when? 
the last soldier had fallen — was pronounced victo- 
rious. 

These soldiers may be purchased at the toy shops 
in the larger cities, but they are easily made by any 
one at all handy with tools. They afford much en- 
joyment, and in this instance were considered quite 



130 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

appropriate by the guests who helped celebrate this 
"wooden wedding, 

« vis H( « :}( « 

The tin wedding celebrates the next anniversary of 
importance, coming with the tenth year of married 
life. Bright tin dishes are seen on the table, coffee, 
tea, etc., being served In tin cups. If one is acquaint- 
ed with a hardVvRre merchant, these mr.y usually be 
liired for the occasion. Tin dishes take the places of 
the vases for the Howers used in decorating the rooms. 
Tin shavings are also conspicuous in the scheme of 
decoration. The invitations are painted on tin, and 
may be very artistic. The name cards are also of tin. 
Sometimes holes are made in the top, through which 
a ribbon is drav/n, and after the party the name cards 
and invitations are tied together, forming a very 
dainty souvenir. 

I-Iere, as at all other anniversary entertainments, 
the first part of the evening is devoted to the recep- 
tion, wedding ceremony, etc., but after the wedding 
supper games appropriate to the occasion are in 
order. 

At one tin wedding one of the guests was sent from 
the room, v/hile the remainder decided upon a word 
that he must guess. The word **lie" was chosen, and 
each one was informed that he must answer the 
question put to him, making use of that word, but in- 
stead of speaking it he must say "tinware." The 
Questioner was then called in. 

"Whom do yovi like best?" he asked the person 
nearest the door. 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 131 

^'Should I tell you now I should probably tinware, 
although I cannot tinware acceptably at any time," 
was the reply. 

*'What do you hate?" he asked the next player. 

"Strong decoctions of tinware," replied the player, 
referring to the v/ord lye. Her answer was good, be- 
cause the pronunciation, not the spelling of a word, 
governs this game. 

''Where do ycu live?" was asked the next player. 

"Yv^herever my head will tinware without bringing 
on concussion of the brain," was the reply. 

"What is your favorite house plant?" was the next 
question. 

"The tinware-ken, v/hen it can be made to grow in 
the house," promptly responded the one questioned, 
to the great amusement of the others, and the ques- 
tioner did not guess that she had referred to lichen. 
Her reply was called good, because she had chosen 
a v/ord containing a syllable of the same sound as the 
chosen word. 

"What is your favorite flower?" was asked the fifth 
player. 

"The perfume of tinware-lacs in some respects, al- 
though the rose is entirely satisfactory as a whole," 
was the mystifying response. 

When the questioner had guessed the word he told 
who had given him the first intimation of it, and the 
person was obliged to become questioner, leaving the 
room while another word was chosen, and so the game 
continues. 

When tired of this amusement, the old-fashioned 



132 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

game of "Tinware," with modern improvements, was 
introduced. 

One of the guests was sent from the room, while 
the others settled upon a word that must be the name 
of some article of tinware. Then he was called back, 
entering with a cane with which he tapped upon the 
floor before one of the guests, saying:. *'Tin, tin! Let 
me in. Want to buy any tin to-day?" 

"Yes," replies the person addressed, "if you have 
what we want." 

"Y/hat is it like?" the tinman then asks. 

"Like the girl to whom you intrusted a secret," was 
the reply. 

"Like part of a girl's wearing apparel," said the 
next player. 

"Like my memory," added the next. 

"Like a leaky boat," said the fourth, and the tin- 
man promptly informed him that he had a sieve for 
sale. The fourth player then gave the tinman his seat 
and left the room, while another article of tinware 
was decided upon. This time it w-as a dipper. When 
the tinman entered, he was obliged to knock before 
the fifth player first, for each of the players was to )j 
reply in turn. 

To the question "What is it like?" the following i] 
replies were given: 

Like an amateur rower. 

Like a bather. 

Like a diving bird. 

Like a speculator in wheat. 

Like part of the great bear. 

The fifth reply gave the tinman the word "dipper," I 



V/EDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 133 

and sent the player making it from the room. A pan 
was the next word decided upon, and the replies were 
as follows: 

Like part of a skull. 

Like part of a gun 

Like the depths of the earth. 

Like part of a miner's outfit 

Like a character in mythoiog-y. 

Like the verb develop. 

"Pan," said the tinner triumphantly. He thought 
he had the word v/hen the fourth reply was made, but 
asked two others what it was like, in order to make 
sure of it. 

At the beginning of the game each player had been 
given five tin counters, which he wished to get rid of. 
They were simply small, circular bits of tin, that may 
be procured of any tinner at small cost. 

When the player answered a question without being 
caught, he handed one of his counters to the tinman. 

If the word was guessed at the close of his reply, he 
was obliged to keep his counter and become tinm.an, 
too. Of course each tinman was anxious to guess the 
v/ord as soon as possible, because every question 
gave him one more counter, but if he became in too 
much of a hurry and guessed the wrong word each of 
the other players gave him a counter. If he was 
obliged to give up without guessing the word, the 
other tinmen gave him the counters which had come 
to them as tinmen — not those with which they had 
been first supplied. It is a game, as will be seen, 
where "plenty of tin" does not bring honor. 

The evening was closed v/ith a game called "the 
tintinnabulation of the bells." 



134 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

One of the party was blindfolded and given a long 
reed for a wand. Then the others, standing in a 
circle around him, began to sing, "Ding-dong-ding- 
dong-ding-dong bell!" each doing his best to imitate 
the tones of a bell. The blindfolded party listened 
attentively, then placed his wand on the singer, 
guessing the name. If the guess was good, the two 
exchanged places, and the new "blind man'* was 
given the wand. It was a ridiculous form of enter- 
tainment, but afforded the company much amuse- 
ment. 

H: 4: 4e 4: * * 

The crystal v/edding takes place on the fifteenth an- 
niversary. 

It is a nice idea to have the cards of invitation and 
the name cards of mica, cut to suit the taste, with 
the lettering done in red ink. 

The lavish use of glass in decorating the rooms 
which this anniversary demands makes it one of the 
most brilliant entertainments to an observer. 

It is not easy for even the most ingenious hostess 
to arrange a programme for the after-dinner hour of 
this entertainment that shall appear entirely appro- 
priate, but it was done at a crystal wedding not long 
since in the following way: 

A table six feet square was brought into the room. 
It was homemade, and rested upon pine supports at 
either end in the form of an X, like an old-fashioned 
cot bed. It would be a good plan to make it so that it 
would fold up like a folding table. The top was cov- 
ered with a good quality of colored Canton flannel, 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 135 

stretched tightly across it and glued on. Holes had 
been bored in the center, at each corner, and midway 
between each corner, and shallow pockets of Canton 
flannel were tacked beneath them. Two steel arches 
were placed over the center pocket, diagonally. A 
thin strip was nailed around the edge of the table, 
forming a guard an inch high. Two of the guests, a 
gentleman and lady, were then selected as captains 
and set to choosing sides. When all the guests had 
been chosen, the lady called one of her company to 
the table, and the gentleman immediately selected 
one of his to act in opposition. If the lady called a 
lady he selected a gentleman, and vice versa, and they 
took the initiative alternately, for he had an advan- 
tage who could see the player selected by the other 
side before calling up his own. 

The tv/o players were each given a little hammer,, 
such as are sold in toy shops at five cents each, and 
six marbles, measuring about an inch in diameter. 
There was another marble of the same size, but differ- 
ent in color, known as the **dog." 

The lady chosen must open the game by placing the 
dog near one of the corner pockets, and one of her 
marbles half way betv/een the dog and the center 
pocket. She must then endeavor to hit the dog with 
her hammer in such a way as to drive her own mar- 
ble into the center pocket. Should she succeed, which 
will be difiicult because the arches are placed diag- 
onally over the center pocket, she takes her marble 
out and places it at a distance of one foot from the 
center pocket in any direction she prefers. The "dog'* 



138 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

is then placed close to any of the oiUslde pockets, and 
she tries to drive her marble into oije oi aiem. Snould 
she fail to do to at Iha m;^t trlai t^^ie laarole must re- 
main where it rolls while her coixipanlon piays. No 
one is allowed two knocks in sucees;:5ion, li the first 
is a failure. When the iady tries again alie may 
either take a new marble or play v/ith the iirst one 
started, according as her judgmeiit dlrecis. Some 
players start all their marbles, removln,;^ them from 
the center pocket when entered, placing them in posi- 
tion, then starting another. Each player can continue 
the game uninterruptedly until he fails to land a 
marble in a pocket, when he must wait for his oppo- 
nent to play. The game is to see Y/hieh one will first 
lodge three balls in a straight row. When that is ac- 
complished, the captain who had chosen the success- 
ful player counts one, the tvro players are seated, and 
two more are chosen, who begin a new game. When 
.all have played, or v/hen the game has continued for 
a certain length of time, as shall have been decided 
tipon beforehand, the scores are then corQpared, and 
iome sort of reward bestov/ed upon the victorious 
side. 

A good player endeavors to lodge his marbles 
across one end and one side of the table, because a 
double three can then be counted, which adds two 
marks to his side. If he sees that his antagonist has 
a marble dangerously close to one of the pockets 
w^hich he wishes to enter, he can use his ''strike'* in 
sending it out of the way. Should he make a mis- 
take and send it into a pocket, it remains there and 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 137 

is counted in her favor, just as if she had sent it 
there herself. That is the reason why some players 
get all their marbles on the table as soon as possible 
— they hope to get them in the way so that their an- 
tagonist must drive them into a pocket in spite of his 
efforts to the contrary. Every marble must be driven 
into the center pocket before it can be played. If the 
first knock is not successful it must be taken from the 
board v/hile the other party plays. The hammer 
must never touch any marble except that known as 
the "dog." 

This game is much more quickly played than de- 
scribed. It is very fascinatjiig, and usually serves 
to entertain a company an entire evening. It is not 
at all difficult to make the table, and the marbles are 
not expensive. It is a good home game that will 
more than repay the cost. Several can play at a 
time, if desired, or there may be four vv^ho play 
partners. The marbles make it suitable as an enter- 
tainment for a crystal v/edding. 

If, however, you do not vash to go to the trouble of 
preparing for this entertainment, you raip-Iit try the 
old-fashioned game, **hull-gull," using tv^^o different 
colors of glass beads. This was tried at an enter- 
tainment, and was made quite an interesting game 
by first dividing the guests into tvs'o companies, who 
were opposed to each other. If a literary savor is 
desired, first have "Pembroke," by Mary E. Wilkins, 
read aloud by some one v/ho can make the company 
feel the little boy's love ]!or the game. 

Guessing the height of celery glasses, pickle dishes. 



138 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

etc., may also be made interesting, especially if some 
slight reward is offered for the guesses. 

If you can afford to spend considerable money on 
the entertainment, you can make the crystal wedding 
quite a gorgeous affair. You can hire a few of those 
musical geniuses, who make pretty music by rubbing 
their fingers around tumblers, to come at a stated 
hour and play for your guests. You can hire a man 
from the nearest museum who will, by means of skill- 
fully arranged mirrors, show your guests ghosts, be- 
headed girls and all manner of strange, unexpected 
and uncanny tableaux at very little expense for the 
stage settings. Then you might hire a set of the 
mirrors which give back various distorted reflections, 
causing consternation and amusement to all who look 
into them. 

At one crystal wedding a large attic was furnished 
with mirrors in excellent imitation of **The Maze" 
that was so popular at the World's Fair. 

***** !F 

Twenty years of married life brings the linen 
wedding. There is a suggestion among the Scottish 
people to the effect that death is sure to take one ox 
the married pair if they even allude to this anniver- 
sary during: the year, and so it is never celebrated by 
thein. Among a majority of *'01d Country" people it 
has been considered unlucky to celebrate this day, 
but of late that feeling is dying away. Among the 
prettiest parties given by society people during the 
last few years may be mentioned the linen wed- 
ding. 



WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. 139 

The invitations are written on squares of linen in 
indelible ink, and the name cards are also of linen. 
Linen is used freely about the rooms, linen lace work- 
ing into decorative scheme most effectively. The 
flax flower is, of course, conspicuous whenever it can 
be obtained. The artificial flower may be used in 
many places, as well as the natural blossoms. The 
center-pieces, doilies, etc., used on the table should 
be embroidered with flax flowers in natural colors. 

While the guests are at supper an old-fashioned 
spinning-wheel should be brought into the parlors in 
readiness for a spinning contest, which may be con- 
ducted as described in the entertainment, "A Spin- 
ning Party." 

In addition to this the ideas given in the entertain- 
ment, *'A Modern Sewing Bee," might be utilized, 
with the e ception that the sewing should be on linen 
instead of millinery. 

The twenty-fifth anniversary is celebrated by the 
silver wedding. Silver letters on either blue or rose- 
colored cards are pretty and appropriate for the in- 
vitations, and the same combination of colors will be 
found effective in decorating the rooms. 

As the friends of one's youth are usually invited to 
these anniversaries, in so far as that is possible, the 
majority of the guests at this entertainment will be 
no longer young, and the hostess will, of course, ar- 
range for amusement of a more dignified character 
than the games described in the preceding pages. 

There should be a literary and musical programme. 



140 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

representing artists of as superior ability as the 
length of the purse will allow. 

****** 

The golden wedding, which is the fiftieth anniver- 
sary of the wedding day, should be celebrated most 
impressively. Unlike the other anniversaries, all 
the trouble and expense should be borne by the rela- 
tives and friends of the old couple to be honored. The 
color scheme is yellow, as a matter of course. Invi- 
tation and name cards should be printed in gold let- 
ters. 

The entertainment is usually in the form of a re- 
ception, and care is taken to have everything pass 
off as smoothly and rapidly as possible, so as not to 
tire the old people unnecessarily. If other entertain- 
ment is desired, it should be short, and of a nature 
pleasing to the aged, but, as a rule, the reception is 
quite taxing enough. 



A MEETING OF CELEBRITffiS. 



You are cordially invited to attend a meeting of celeb- 
rities, to be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. JO. 

Washburn, Monday evening, March fifth. 

The above invitation brought many curious people 

together on the appointed evening. As soon as the 

guests entered the parlor a slip of paper was pinned 

to the back of their clothing, where others could see 

and read it, but they could not see it themselves. 

Each slip contained the name of some noted person 

or of some character in fiction. They were then to 

try to discover, by judicious questioning, what name 

they bore. 

Am I male or female? Real or imaginary? Living or 
dead? Of what nationality? How old? 

The above are a few of the questions most often 
asked. At this particular party a rule was made that 
only three questions should be asked of a person at 
any one time. 

As the guests entered a tally card was given to 
each, and was fastened, by a silk cord, to a con- 
venient buttonhole. As soon as a guest haa discovered 

141 



142 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

her identity, or thought she had, she went to the 
hostess and said, "I believe 1 am so-and-so." If she 
were correct, the hostess punched her tally card, re- 
moved the slip of paper from her back and pinned 
another in its place. 

The person who had her card punched oftenest was 
then suitably rewarded. In the case referred to she 
received a booklet made of mounted photographs of 
celebrities, tied together with gold cord. 

This game filled the first part of the evening, and 
was followed by refreshments. The latter part of the 
evening was given to "living pictures" of celebrities. 
These had been arranged beforehand so that the gen- 
tleman who was to pose as Micawber knew what was 
expected of him, and came prepared. A collection of 
engravings of famous characters was of great use in 
getting up this part of the programme. Among the 
guests present was one who needed but very little 
change to make him look startlingly like pictures of 
Lincoln, and another who was greeted with cheers 
when he appeared as Gladstone. 

The hostess was so fortunate as to number among 
her acquaintances one who had considerable stage 
experience and so understood the art of ''making up." 
He was of great assistance in helping to pose celebri- 
ties, and that part of the entertainment v/as, as a 
consequence, much more artistic than it would other- 
wise have been. 

But every one does not have a friend who can afford 
such assistance, and there are those who, for various 
reasons, could not have the ''living pictures." To 



A MEETING OF CELEBRITIES. 143 

such the following Giiggestions are offered for the 
latter part of the evening devoted to celebrities: 

Ask the guests to come pre^iared to give a short 
sketch of^some noted person or character, using the 
first instead of the third person. 

For instance, one will say: *'I was born in Eng- 
land in 1848. In 1864 I v/as married for the first time. 
My second husband died in 18S5. The greater part of 
my life has been spent on the stage, where I achieved 
a world-wide reputation. I am not tragic, and have 
assumed few tragic roles. I played Ophelia under 
the management of Mr. Henry Irving. I also played 
Katharine in *'The Taming of the Shrew," and Mr. 
Irving took the leading part. I v/as eight years of 
age when I played Mamilius in *A Y/inter's Tale.' " 

Before beginning this part of the entertainment, all 
of the guests must have been supplied with blank 
cards and pencils. 

As each person finishes his story his name is writ- 
ten on the card with that of the celebrity he is sup- 
posed to represent. When all have had an opportu- 
nity, each one may be asked three questions about 
himself before the cards are exchanged for correction, 
in order that the guests may have an opportunity to 
verify their guesses. Some souvenir should be given 
the gentleman and lady making the largest number of 
correct guesses. In this, as in every game calling for 
knowledge, attention should not be called to the one 
making the smallest number of correct guesses. A 
"consolation prize" must of necessity be an insult. 

There are few who cannot take a part in this enter- 



144 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

tainment, and no one who will not enjoy it. There 
will not be many in any company who will be able to 
place a large proportion of the celebrities, but those 
who can get but few will still enjoy hearing the sto- 
ries. Where the party is small, the guests might each 
assume two parts. 

Another interesting way in which to spend the lat- 
ter part of this evening is as follows: 

The guests are all seated around a long table in the 
center of the room. Several small tables may be 
placed together to form one long one. A basket of 
cards is then passed around, every guest drawing 
one. Each card contains the name of some celebrity. 
Other cards are scattered along the table within easy 
reach of all, and it is explained that three of these 
belong to each card held by the guests, forming a 
sketch of the life of the celebrity whose name it con- 
tains. 

For instance, suppose one gentleman has drawn 
a card bearing the name of 

IGNAZ JOHANNB PaDEREWSKI. 

He then hunts among the cards en the table until 

he finds one with this written upon it: 

Born in Podolia, Russian Poland, in 1860. Parents be- 
longed to the nobility; but, owing to oppression, were 
unknown. 

He makes another search, and finds a second card 

that seems to suit his purpose. It reads: 

At twelve he attended the conservatory at Warsaw. 
At nineteen he married. At twenty he was a widower. 
Then he began studying under Prof. Leschtitsky at 
Vienna, making his first public appearance that samo 
year. Two years later he created a sensation in Paris by 
his rendering of Chopin's compositions. 



A MEETING OF CELEBRITIES. 145: 

The third card might read as follows: 

He came to America in 1891, and gave sixty-four con- 
certs, for which he received about one hundred and forty 
thousand dollars. 

No prizes are offered with this game, for the pur- 
pose is to promote conversation, not incite rivalry. 
Whenever a person finds a card that would seem to 
fit the sketch his neighbor is building, he is expected 
to hand it over, and advice should be freely asked and 
offered. The cards in the center of the table should be 
well mixed, in order that every guest may see them. 
all. 

Four cards instead of three may form the sketch, if. 
desired. 

This entertainment calls for considerable prepara-^ 
tory work, but when the cards are once prepared you 
have a game that will amuse on many different oc- 
casions, and one of which one may be very proud. 
If preferred, the work may be done on a type-writer, 
and the strips pasted on slips of cardboard the length 
of the type-written line. The strips of paper might be 
used without being pasted to the cardboard, but would 
be more easily lost or torn. A book should be pre- 
pared for the hostess, each page of which is devoted 
to one of the chosen celebrities. The pages should be 
arranged alphabetically for convenience as a book of 
reference. 

At the top of the page write, for instance, 

Paderewski. 

Next— 

1. Bom in Podolia, Russian Poland, 1860. 

2. At twelve attended conservatory at Warsaw. 

3. He came to America in 1891. 



146 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

As will be seen, the figures refer to the number of 
the card, showing the first line of each and the order 
in which they should appear. 

When a guest thinks he has his sketch finished, he 
reads it aloud, while the hostess refers to her book. 
If he is correct he can then assist a neighbor, or, if 
cards are not all out, he may draw another and begin 
again. 



ENTERTAINING CHILDREN. 



It requires genius of a high order to be able to en- 
tertain children wisely and well. This is especially 
true of the children of this generation, who, like their 
parents, are mere bundles of nerves, and, consequent- 
ly, capricious, excited, discontented and hard to 
please. 

It is really a good rule to provide the simplest and 
most unconventional modes of entertainment when 
the party is made up of children who have been pam- 
pered from babyhood, keeping the more ceremonious 
affairs for the little folks who have been obliged to 
provide their own amusements, for change is abso- 
lutely necessary to the happiness of the children. 

In the juvenile entertainments of the present day 
there is too much striving for effect. They are dis- 
tinguished by methods original, charming, artistic 
and expensive, absolutely delightful to mammas, but 
neither healthy nor entertaining for the little folks. 
They increase an inherited love of display, and sow 
seeds of envy and discontent. There is nothing child- 
like about them. 

147 



148 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

In the entertainments for children selected for this 
little book care has been used that nothing should 
be admitted that would seem to have a tendency to 
make little society women of our girls and miniature 
dandies of our boys. 



AN OLD-FASHIONED PARTY, 



Nellie Brown's classmates had been invited to an 
old-fasxiioned party, and they were very curious as to 
the sort of entertainment that might be looked for, 
but to all their questioning they received this reply: 
**Just a regular, old-fashioned party." 

When they arrived Nellie informed them that they 
would have a game of "Adam and Eve" as a starter. 
It had teen played by mamma when she was a little 
girl. They all joined hands, forming a ring; then 
tv o boys were blindfolded and placed inside the ringj 
where they each chose a girl to join them. One 
cour^^ was ramed Adam and Eve, the other Naomi 
rrd El'me'erh, and it was the duty of Adam to catch 
Eve. while Ellmelech sought to capture Naomi. As 
both h^ys were blindfolded they frequently caught 
the v;r^r>o- oriri. pt-6. more frequently caught each 
cthe^. c^ o-r^f^ o^ those fcnr^'ng the ring, all of which 
prided to +hp prniisemeTit. When Eve and Naomi had 
been cpj-'^hf thev were bUridfolded and each chose a 
pPTfr.oT' *-n^ry^ f>>p rirtjr wbiip the two bovs first blind- 
folded took the places of ■'•>»e newly chosen. 

149 



150 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Whenever the person who was blindfolded called 
his partner he was obliged to respond, and the fre- 
quent calls of **0h, Elimelech, where are you?'* or 
"Adam, speak to me," or "Eve, Eve, where are you 
now?" were funny to hear. 

When tired of this play there was a division of the 
guests into two parties — a boy and a girl choosing 
sides as for a spelling school. Two hats were then 
passed around, each containing slips of paper, and 
every guest drew one slip from each hat. One con- 
tained a written question, the other an answer, and. 
of course, they bore no relation to each other, for 
care had been taken to mix them well. They were, 
besides, as ridiculous as young minds could make 
them. 

The leader on one side read his question and an- 
swer to himself, then he was obliged to step before 
the members of the other and ask the question, giv- 
ing the answer. He must not laugh while doing 
so. although the "enemies" had the privilege of doing 
everything in their power, save touching him, to 
make him laugh. If they succeeded he was sent to 
the "hospital" (a place at one end of the room where 
all the couches and easy chairs had been moved), and 
the side which he had represented lost one member. 
Then the leader on the other side stepped forward 
and went throrgh the same ordeal. Oh, then, how the 
companions of the vanquished one did strive to be 
revensred! 

Py the time 99ch one hJ^d rp?^d his auestion and an- 
swer few members remained on either side, but the 



AN OLD-FASHIONED PARTY. 151 

hats were passed again, and the game continued until 
there was but one who had not laughed. He received 
a buttonhole bouquet as a reward. 

Although all complained of aching sides, from so 
much laughing, they were anxious to try again, so the 
slips of paper were returned to their respective hats, 
thoroughly mixed and drawn again. Of course they 
were as new as they had been in the first place, be- 
cause new combinations were formed, and just as 
funny. 

The one whose turn had come to read his was 
obliged to step before the others and say, ''Ladies, I 
am asked this" (reads the question). *'My answer 
is" (reads the answer). 

This form was insisted upon, because it kept the^ 
poor victim on the rack a little longer. 

When one knows that he must try to keep at 
straight face, and then tries to say before a grinning; 
and unsympathetic audience, "Ladies and gentlemen^ 
I am asked this: *Why does a goat lower his head 
when saluting a gentleman in retreat?' My answer is: 
*He was married last year,* " he has a difi3.cult task 
before him. 

It should be explained that many more questions 
and answers must be prepared than there are guests„ 
for some can control themselves so well that they 
draw several times. 

It might also be explained that, at the party in 
question, a smile did not count unless the lips parted, 
but a snicker, or even the most quickly suppressed 
giggle, was counted against one. 



152 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

When this game was ended refreshments were 
brought in, for the young people were, to quote one 
of the boys, "tired inside and out," with so much 
laughing, and wanted a rest before beginning any- 
thing else. 

The children who gave the party had ordered re- 
freshments according to their ideas of old-fashioned 
parties. They consisted of apples, popcorn, ginger- 
bread, candy and lemonade. They were brought into 
the room and set upon a large table, and the guest^i 
were invited to help themselves. It was an uncere- 
monious way of doing things, but highly satisfactory 
to all present, and more than an hour was given to 
eating, drinking and making merry. 

A quiet game was next decided upon, and the dumb 
band was organized. The guests were seated in a 
circle, including the hostess, who had agreed to be 
the leader. Then the players were told the name of 
an instrument that had been assigned them. One was 
to play the piano, another the flute, another the Jews- 
harp, and so on. There were more guests than in- 
struments, and so there were two violinists, two ban- 
Joists, etc. 

Each was to go through the motions of playing on 
the instrument selected, but, of course, there was no 
instrument, and not a loud sound of any sort was 
made. The leader was to beat time, but whenever 
she thought a player was not paying attention she 
immediately ceased beating time and began playing 
liis instrument. He should then begin beating time 
«at once, to prove that he had watched her every 



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AN OLD-FASHIONED PARTY. 153 

movement. If he failed to do so he was sent away 
in disgrace. When the leader began playing an in- 
strument that had* been assigned two parties, both 
must begin to beat time, continuing until informed 
which player the leader was trying to "freeze out,'* 
as the process of discharging a member is called. 
Usually, licweTer, one of the players is caught imme- 
diately, and fccmetimes two are sent away at once. A 
small ribbc:\ ladr-e is pinned to the shoulder of the 
per^cn he manages to expel from 
owever, he takes the instrument of 
lie alf-ru he loses the leadership as a 
'., a?Kl cap win no more badges until 
In order to he chosen a player often 
preter.dfc to le inatleniive, Tviiea, as a fact, he is un- 
usuall3' \y'do av-ake. 

This is a most ridiculous gaioe, and usually sends 
the svcc-acors into pe?.ls of laughter, but it requires 
alert re^.s, ond ?s sine as n player begins to laugh he 
is lost. The evening was iinished with a game of 
*'dumb crambo." 

The guests v/ere divided into companies of six, who 
took turns in leaving the room. A word was then 
selected by those v/ho remained, and a word rhym- 
ing with it mentioned to the party in the outer room, 
who then proceeded to act other rhyming words until 
they found the correct one. 

For instance, the company who first left the room 
were told that they must act a word that rhymed 
with "dell." One of them immediately came in ring- 
ing a small tea bell. 



154 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

**No," said the audience. **It is not bell." 

It will be observed that the audience is obliged to 
guess what word the company is acting, while the 
company guesses the word the audience wishes acted. 

Sell, tell, well and Nell were acted, all to no pur- 
pose; but when "cell" was represented it was pro- 
nounced the right one. 

This entertainment, while especially designed for 
quite young people, can be given with satisfaction 
to those of larger growth, who have not grown too 
old to enjoy a good, old-fashioned romp. 






A PUNCH AND JUDY PARTY, 



A lady living in a flat where children could not in- 
dulge in noisy games without disturbing the neigh- 
bors once gave a Punch and Judy party to her little 
daughter's friends. The notes of invitation were as 
follows: 

Sir Punch and Lady Judy will entertain the friends of 
Miss Myrtle Bland between the hours of three and five, 
on Saturday afternoon, January 17. You are cordially in- 
vited to be present. 

When the little folks arrived their wraps were re- 
moved, and they were seated in kindergarten chairs 
which had been hired for the occasion, and were 
arranged in a semi-circle around, and at a little 
distance from a sort of stage at the end of 
the parlor. Between this stage and the children 
were stretched gay ropes made of red, white and 
blue bunting, loosely plaited together. These ropes 
were intended to prevent the children coming too 
closely to the stage when excitement made it impos- 
sible for them to keep their seats any longer. 

As soon as they had all arrived a personage dressed 
in most fantastic costume stepped forth and an- 

155 



156 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

nounced himself as the great Jibboree Jeth, who had 
come from a tar-away country, of which they never 
had heard, to show them some very wonderful tricks. 

"First," said Jibboree Jeth, **I will cause an egg to 
disappear from a hat, and, although you may look 
ever so closely, not one of you can see where it goes." 

He then took a man's stiff hat, blew in it, allowed 
the children to see the inside of it, then showed them 
a hen's egg, which he held in his hand. The egg was 
placed in the hat, and the hat covered with a large 
silk handkerchief. He shook the hat, and the child- 
ren heard the egg rolling about. Then he waved a 
wand over it, muttering some words quite unintelli- 
gible to them — any Latin verse will do nicely. The 
handkerchief was removed and shaken and the inside 
of the hat shown to the children. The egg was gone, 
yet the man had done nothing which they had not 
seen, and the h?.t had never left the table for a mo- 
ment. They were greatly interested, and, although 
the trick was repeated several times, and they made 
many guesses, it still remained a mystry. 

The explanation is this: The performer showed 
them a whole egg, but he had one the contents of 
which had been blown out through a very small hole 
in one end. A fine silk thread had then been passed 
through the egg, fastening it to the center of the 
handkerchief. It was left long enough to allow the 
egg to touch the bottom of the hat, when the hand- 
kerchief was spread over it. It was an easy matter 
to remove the egg with the handkerchief and to shake 
the handkerchief gently before the audience, taking 



A PUNCH AND JUDY PARTY. 157 

care to have the egg next to the performer. The 
whole egg, of course, remained concealed. Suddenly 
the performer discovered the egg cooking in a dish 
of cold water on a shelf near him, and informed the 
children that it was swelling dreadfully. He then 
told them a marvelous story of a bird found in his 
country called the "dodo." It laid eggs that swelled 
to great size when boiled, and he added, after taking 
a second peep at the egg, that he was quite sure it 
was a dodo's egg. Finally he took it out and held it 
up to the gaze of the delighted children. It had been 
made as follows: Two dozen eggs had been broken, 
the whites being placed in one dish and the yolks in 
another, v/hile the shells were placed in an earthen 
dish that was quite new. The yolks were well mixed 
and then poured into a bladder, which was tied up 
closely, then left in water until set, as if boiled hard. 
This ball was then taken from the bladder and placed 
in a larger one, and the whites of the eggs, carefully 
mixed, were poured around it. The bladder was then 
tied compactly in the shape of an egg and boiled hard. 
Care was taken to keep it turning as it boiled, so that 
the yellow remained in the middle. The egg shells 
were soaked in vinegar for several hours until they 
became a sort of paste. The bladder was removed 
from the boiled egg, which was then covered with the 
egg-shell paste, a brush being used for the purpose. 
The whole was then left in water for twenty-four 
hours, when the shell was hard and the mammoth egg 
complete. 
It is much more easily done than one would think. 



158 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

and produces an effect on little people that is not soon 
forgotten. 

Jibboree Jeth next produced several stuffed animals 
that looked quite stiff and inanimate when passed 
around among the children for examination. But he 
told them that he really had a great deal of trouble 
with them at times, and that he should be glad of any 
suggestions that would aid him in keeping them quiet, 
as stuffed animals ought to be. 

Through the tail of each animal he had run a 
tough, springy length of steel tape. When the ani- 
mals were returned to him he placed them on tables 
a little distance apart. "Poor Pussy, go to sleep,** he 
said to the cat, laying her on her side. He had stuck 
wax on the end of her tail, without being seen, of 
course, and then brought it around to one side, where 
he pressed it so that it would hold to the table. He 
then turned his back, treating a small dog on another 
table in a similar way. But the dog was hardly put to 
sleep when the steel in the cat's tail worked aw^ay 
from the wax, and the body sprang up and rolled 
about in a most comical manner. He rushed to the 
cat in pretended dismay, hushing her to sleep as he 
had done before, then turned his attention to still 
another animal; but before he could get it in order 
the dog began to perform. The children were soon 
in ecstacies of laughter over the poor man's efforts 
to keep his stuffed animals quiet, and were not at 
all ready to part with them when he, pretending to 
be angry, locked them into a box. 

Several sleight-of-hand tricks, easily done by an 



A PUNCH AND JUDY PARTY. 159 

amateur, next claimed their attention, and, finally. 
Punch and Judy were brought forward. Oh, what 
glee there was then! For there was never a child 
who could not enjoy a Punch and Judy show. 

When it was nearly time for the children to go 
home they were led into the dining-room, where 
simple refreshments were served. 

They went home so excited and so happy over the 
wonderful things they had seen that their hostess 
felt more than repaid for the really small amount of 
time and trouble the entertainment had cost her. 
Any one having a young man friend who loves child- 
ren and knows how to talk to them, can get up such 
an entertainment, "Jibboree Jeth" and all, and she 
may be sure that, in the minds of the little folks, it 
will be considered the finest event of the season. 

A magic lantern can be used to good purpose for 
the first part of the entertainment, if there is no one 
who can carry out the programme outlined above. In 
that case the room should be darkened. Only such 
pictures should be chosen as will be likely to interest 
the little ones, and some one should be ready with a 
story of each as it appears. If he can select a series 
of pictures around which he can weave a story of 
adventure, with himself for the hero, his success will 
be assured from the start. 



A MODERN BATTLE. 



You are hereby invited to take part in a modem battle 
to be given at the home of Mr. John Crawford, on the 
evening of June 25, 1898. Boys will follow the leadership 
of Russell Crawford; girls, that of Nettie Crawford. 

When these invitations reached the friends of Rus- 
sell Crawford and his sister Nettie, they were very 
curious as to what might be in store for them, but 
the secret was carefully guarded. When the guests 
arrived it was ascertained that the number of boys 
and of girls was equal. Russell immediately formed 
his troops in battle array on one side of the room, 
while Nettie arranged hers opposite. 

Father, mother and Will, the big brother, came in 
and seated themselves at the head of the two columns, 
for the two former were to be judges, and Will was to 
be umpire and "Lord High Everything Else," as 
needed. 

After explaining the first game. Will asked of Net- 
tie, "What do you want for supper?" 

"Pie," she replied, promptly. 

"Pie and coffee," said Russell. 
160 



A MODERN BATTLE. 161 

'Tie, coffee and cake," said Nettie's right-hand 
neighbor. 

"Pie, coffee, cake and sandwiches," said the boy 
who stood next to Russell. 

And so it continued, first a girl, then a boy adding 
a word, after repeating all that had gone before. Any 
one omitting a word was obliged to take his seat. 
Will wrote dovv'n the additions to the bill of fare, as 
they were mentioned, for the sake of accuracy. The 
game became very exciting at the last, when more 
than a dozen dishes had been named, and the **sol- 
diers" were falling rapidly. When all were dov/n on 
one side the others were declared winners. 

Then they rose again, and Will asked, *'Vv^hat do 
you see?" 

''Piano, " replied Russell. 

"Piano and carpet," said Nettie. 

"Piano, carpet and rocking chair," was the next 
response, and so it continued until all were seated, as 
in the first instance. 

The third time Will asked, "What would you like 
to wear?" 

"New dress," replied Nettie. 

"New dress and new boots," said Russell amid a 
shout of laughter. 

"New dress, new boots and new hat," said Nettie's 
first soldier. 

"New dress, new boots, new hat and new coat," 
was the next response. 

It did not take long to decide who was the winner 
this time, for amid the laughter caused by the gen- 



162 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

eral mixture of wearing apparel, few could remember 
all that had gone before. 

The side winning two of the three games was 
marked one hundred on a blackboard that had been 
hung against the wall for that purpose, and after a 
few moments devoted to laughter and general com- 
ments on the game, the two forces were once more 
drawn up in battle array. 

As soon as the game was explained, Russell began 
by saying: 

"Adam Anderson ate apples.'* 

"Adam Anderson ate apples and boys buy brooms," 
said Nettie. 

"Adam Anderson ate apples, boys buy brooms and 
cats catch chickens," said the third speaker. 

The fourth repeated what had gone before and 
added, "and dogs dig dates," the fifth, "and elephants 
eat elderberries." 

As will be seen, each speaker was obliged to repeat 
all that had gone before and add a sentence the words 
of which began with the next following letter in the 
alphabet or take his seat. This soon became so diffi- 
cult that the game ended quickly, and the victorious 
party scored thirty. 

Then Nettie said "A." 

"A boy," responded Russell. 

"A boy catches," said the next speaker. 

"A boy catches dogs," said the fourth. 

"A boy catches dogs every," said the fifth. 

"A boy catches dogs every forenoon," said the 
sixth. 



A MODERN BATTLE. 163 

It was thought that the seventh soldier could not 
add a word and must take his seat, but they found 
him equal to the occasion, and the sentence was 
lengthened until it ended like this: 

"A boy catches dogs every forenoon, going in June, 
kicking loose mud nests on porches, quite ruinously, 
sometimes, too, until various women — " 

The one whose turn came next could not add a 
word beginning with X, and was obliged to take his 
seat; then the one next in order began a new sen- 
tence, using the letter "A" or some word beginning 
with A. When the game was ended, the victorious 
party scored thirty. If liked, this game may be tried 
three times, the side winning twice scoring one hun- 
dred. 

Next the entire party, excepting Russell and Nettie, 
was sent into an adjoining room and told to look 
around them very carefully. At the end of seven 
minutes they were recalled; then each one was given 
a pencil and paper and told to write the names of as 
many of the objects he had seen in that room as he 
could remember. Fifteen minutes later the papers 
were signed and then handed to Will — those written 
by the girls being in one pile, those by the boys in 
another. 

While refreshments were served and partaken of. 
Will went over the papers, making two lists of words, 
one for each side. These lists included the names of 
the different objects mentioned by each side. That 
is, if three girls had "clock" in their lists, it was 
counted but once in the list made out by Will. It 



164: MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

could, of course, appear in the list made out for the 
boys, provided any one of them remembered to put 
it in. 

The side having the largest number of objects rep- 
resented scored thirty. Two pictures, or even more, 
were counted, provided their names were given, or 
they were indentined as "one picture in gilt frame," 
"one picture in oak frame," etc. Chairs might also 
be described so as to allow of more than one being 
counted. 

When the young people returned from the dining- 
room, they were again given pencils and paper and 
seated where they had a good view of a small table, 
behind which Will was standing. 

An ink well was then placed on the table, and they 
were told to guess its height, making a note of it on 
their papers something as follows: 

Ink well, two inches. 

A bottle, hat, teacup, box, vase and different ar- 
ticles, to the number of two dozen, were placed on 
the table, no two at the same time, for it was not in- 
tended that the young people should have the aid of 
comparison. When they had guessed the height of 
the two dozen articles the papers were exchanged, the 
boys taking those of the girls, and "handing theirs 
over to the enemy," as they expressed it. Then Will 
read the names of the articles in their order from a 
list he had previously prepared, giving their exact 
height. Such shouts of laughter as filled the room 
when the different guesses were read aloud are not 
often heard! The number of correct guesses was 



A MODERN BATTLE. 165 

noted at the bottom of each paper, then the papers 
were exchanged again and anxiously inspected to 
see if they had been properly marked. Will added the 
number of correct guesses on each side, and the side 
having the larger number scored thirty. 

Next Will read a list of twenty-four words of three 
syllables each, pronouncing them very nearly as fast 
as an ordinary reader would read a paragraph from 
a book. The young people wrote as rapidly as pos- 
sible, but not one succeeded in getting every word. 
The words were then counted and the sums added, 
thirty being scored by the victorious party. 

This was the last game of the evening, which was 
now far advanced, and dainty boxes of bonbons were 
distributed among the members of the victorious 
**army,'* who were all generous enough to divide with 
the conquered. 

It would not do at all to tell which side won. Try 
giving a similar party, and then you will be prepared 
to say whether girls or boys would be most likely to 
win *'A Modern Battle." 



A MYSTIC CIRCLE. 



A party given by a twelve-year-old girl to her class 
not long ago bore this mysterious title, occasioning 
much excitement among those receiving invitations, 
which were as follows: 

Miss Nettie Blair, 

At Home, 

Wednesday, May 10th, 1898. 

From 3 to 6 P. M. 

Mystic Circle. 

The last two words were enclosed in a circle of tiny 
leaves, and a larger circle of the leaves enclosed all 
the words of the invitation, including the smaller 
circle. 

Miss Nettie lived so close to neighbors that it was 
decided that the guests must be amused as quietly as 
possible, and so an elder sister had planned the party 
with that end in view, securing the help of one of her 
own friends. 

"Now, children," she said, when the guests had 
assembled, "Laura will leave the room and while she 
is gone we must decide upon the name of some ani- 
mal. When she returns I'll write something upc n 
166 



A MYSTIC CIRCLE. 167 

the floor with this cane, and you shall say whether 
or not I have told her the name of the animal.'* 

Laura left the room, and after considerable whis- 
pering, the word "hear" was decided upon; then 
Laura was called back. 

"Begin here," said Lucy, Nettie's sister, drawing 
the cane along the floor in an irregular line, then giv- 
ing tv/o smart taps on the floor with it, after which 
there was a perceptible pause, then one tap. Then 
she drew the cane in another direction, saying: "Run 
along here." 

"Bear," said Laura, immediately. 

"You knew%" accused the children. "You had de- 
cided on that before." 

To convince them Laura again left the room, and 
the children reached a decision without Lucy's help, 
merely whispering the word "rat" in her ear before 
Laura was admitted. Then they watched closely for 
telegraphic signals, but Lucy kept her eyes on the 
floor. 

"Run along here," she said, giving the cane a 
sweep and a smart tap; "try it over here," with an- 
other aimless sweep. 

"Rat," said Laura, and the children were almost 
too surprised to speak. 

Again and again Laura was sent from the room, 
long names and short names and all sorts of names 
of animals being chosen, and she guessed every one 
correctly. This explanation of the game was not told 
the children, for little folks enjoy a thing better if 
they do not understand it. 



168 MUDEKN E.N TEKTAINMBNTS. 

If the word chosen began with a consonant, Lucy 
always began her sentence with the same consonant. 
The direction given the cane had nothing to do with 
it, except to mystify the audience. If the next letter 
were a, she gave one tap of the cane; e, two taps; 1, 
three taps; o, four taps; u, five taps. 

It was very simple, as you see, but it interested the 
children a long time, and they were not tired of the 
game when Lucy proposed something else. 

Standing tefore thern, she tapped with the cane on 

the floor, meanwhile beating time to the following 

couplet: 

Malaga raisins are very good raisins, 
But raisins from Smyrna are better. 

Then she said: "I do not believe there is one of 
you who can do it as I did." All failed at first, al- 
though Lucy showed them repeatedly; but at the sec- 
ond trial one very observing little girl noticed that 
Lucy began by saying. "Now see me.'' So she did 
likewise, and had the pleasure of explaining the se- 
cret to the rest of the company. 

Then they tried the old game of passing the scis- 
sors around the circle, each one saying as he passed 
them on, *'I hand you the scissors crossed," or "I 
hand you the scissors uncrossed." For some time 
they thought the words crossed and uncrossed re- 
ferred to the scissors, and were greatly surprised 
when told that they had not done it correctly. After 
a while, however, they began to discover that the 
words referred entirely to the position of the feet 
when the scissors were passed. 



A MYSTIC CIRCLE. 169 

Lucy then handed each guest a slip of paper, all the 
slips having been cut of uniform size. 

**Write something on the paper," she said, "but 
don't tell any one what you have written, for I'm 
going to prove to you that Laura can read through 
her forehead with her eyes shut.'* 

All the slips were collected in a hat as soon as the 
children had finished writing, and Laura took a seat 
in a chair facing the audience. Lucy pretended to 
put her into a trance by making passes before her 
eyes. At the same time she cautioned the children to 
keep quiet, so as not to disturb her. 

Then, pressing a slip of paper to Laura's forehead, 
with the writing next the skin, she held it there for a 
moment, when Laura said, slowly, as if reading poor 
writing: 

**We are to have popcorn very soon." 

**Why," exclaimed Lucy, "I wrote that myself!" 

**Did I get it right?" asked Laura, who seemed 
hardly able to believe it. "Let me see," she added, 
opening her eyes. Lucy let her have the slip for a 
moment, then took it away, telling her to close her 
eyes again, and when she had done so, another slip 
v/as taken from the hat and pressed to her forehead. 

"Ralph has a black spot on his face," she read. 

"I wrote that," shouted Ralph's sister, gleefully. 

"Oh! how did she read it?" exclaimed the others, 
and again the delighted Laura had to satisfy herself, 
by looking at the slip, that she had read correctly. 
And so it continued until all the slips had been read 
and safely stowed away in Lucy's pocket. 



170 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

This little game is very clever, and will often puzzle 
the wisest heads, but the method of procedure is quite 
simple. 

The first slip of paper Lucy had pressed on Laura's 
forehead had been the one written by Ralph's sister. 
What Laura had pretended to read about the popcorn 
had really been made up, for Lucy had written noth- 
ing. When Laura had taken the slip to see if it were 
really correct, she had read what was on it, and that 
was what she pretended to read the next time. In the 
excitement it was not noticed that she always wished 
to verify what she had read. The last slip pressed to 
her forehead was blank, and was simply used in order 
that she might read aloud the sentence on the slip of 
paper which she had just read silently and handed 
back to Lucy. 

Lucy then took the cane, and, thumping on the 
floor with it, said: "He can do little who can't do 
this." Laura took it, and repeated the words, and 
Lucy pronounced her performance correct, but none 
of the children got it right until they had tried sev- 
eral times and observed quite closely. The secret lies 
in the fact that the stick, when passed on, is first re- 
ceived in the left-hand and thence transferred to the 
right before going through the thumping ceremony. 
An uninitiated person almost instinctively takes the 
stick in the right hand at once. 

Once more Laura was sent from the room and 
the children were asked to decide upon some ol> 
ject in the room, which Laura was to guess on her 
return. 



A MYSTIC CIRCLE. 171 

They decided upon the clock. "Is it in the book- 
case?" asked Lucy when Laura had been called in. 

^'No." 

"The piano?" 

"No." 

**That picture?" 

"No." 

"The cat?" 

"No." 

"The clock?" 

"Yes." 

The children guessed that the fifth question was 
always to be answered in the aflarmative; that she 
had pointed to the clock differently from the others; 
that there was a different inflection given her voice, 
and a dozen other methods of distinction, but when 
other words were tried and they watched closely for 
proof of their views, they always found themselves 
mistaken. 

I The secret lay in mentioning something having four 
legs, just before the object that had been decided 
upon. When the cat was the specified object the table 
was mentioned, then the cat, bringing two objects 
having four legs together. 

When this last game had been made clear to all, 
the children were greatly surprised upon being told 
that they would have just time enough to eat supper 
and get home by the time they were expected there, 
lj.| for they had not thought the party had lasted more 
' than an hour. 



A SHOOTING MATCH. 



The following party was given by a boy on his 
fourteenth birthday, both boys and girls being in- 
vited. The invitations were as follows: 

Earle Wilson presents compliments to and re- 
quests the pleasure of his company at his home, on the 
evening of May 21st, 1898, when there will be held a shoot- 
ing match (no powder being used), in honor of his birth- 
day, 

When the guests arrived they found nine pins, bean 
bags and toy pistols in the parlor. The pistols used 
may be purchased anywhere at fifty cents apiece. 
They are loaded with a rubber-tipped arrow that will 
stick closely to a smooth, hard surface when fired 
against it. A square of cardboard, with a bullseye in 
the center and various colored rings around it, comes 
with the pistol. This was hung against one wall of ' 
the parlor when the young people entered. 

Two of the guests were at once set to work to 
choose sides, as for a spelling match; then the leaders 
drew lots to see which should have the first shot. 
They were to take turns firing at the bullseye, to de- 

172 



A SHOOTING MATCH. 173 

termine which side would have the best score in ten 
rounds. Each one shot three times at the mark be- 
fore passing the pistol to the one on the opposite side. 
There were figures on the cardboard that told how 
much a shot counted when the rubber "ammunition" 
stuck in the bullseye or in any of the outer circles. 

Earl's young lady sister kept the score cards and 
acted as umpire. The excitement was intense as the 
game drew to a close, for the sides were nearly even, 
and every shot was watched with anxiety. When the 
twelve rounds were finished a bouquet of carnations 
was distributed among the members of the victorious 
side. 

Then the game of bean bag was started, and again 
sides were chosen, different persons being called upon 
to act as leaders. The board was painted red. Three 
holes were made in it, and above each one were black 
figures that told how many might be counted when 
the bean bags went through. If a bag were thrown 
through the largest hole it only counted ten, but there 
were two smaller holes, one marked twenty, the 
other thirty. There were five of the bean bags, and 
each contestant threw them all before resigning his 
place to another. In this, as in the game with the 
pistols, the leaders began and were followed by their 
"soldiers," who came forward in the order they had 
been chosen, first a member of one side, then of the 
other. Six rounds were played, the sister again keep- 
ing count and acting as umpire. When the game was 
finished a bouquet of white carnations was distrib- 
uted among the members of the winning side. 



174: MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Next came the game of ninepins, and for the third 
time sides were chosen. The game was played as 
usual, with such variations as were necessary to make 
it suitable for two armies of such size. Any bright 
boy will know how to manage it. When the game was 
ended, flowers were distributed as before, pansies 
having been selected for the purpose. 

Then a home-made table was brought in. It had 
been made by Earle, who had read of round gypsy 
tables with legs made of broom sticks. He had 
rubbed the round top with sandpaper until it was 
perfectly smooth, then v/ritten figures as closely to- 
gether as possible all around the outer edge. Next 
an arrow was fastened on a pivot to the center of the 
table, so that it would easilj^ revolve. One of the 
boys stepped to the arrow and gave it a twirl, then 
all watched it until it had become perfectly still. The 
figure it then pointed to was called out, and Earle's 
sister immediately looked into a large covered clothes 
basket that had been brought into the room, and took 
out a tiny bag of peanuts bearing a tag, showing the 
same figure. This was given to the boy. Then an- 
other twirled the arrow, and this time it pointed to 
a figure that brought a bag containing an orange. 

Each guest twirled the arrow in turn. The bags in 
the basket contained but little, but there were a great 
many of them. Nuts, popcorn, candy, oranges, ba- 
nanas, cakes, turnovers, popcorn balls, doughnuts 
and, indeed, all sorts of "goodies" were thus served to 
the guests amid the wildest hilarity. No other re- 
freshments were served, and such fun as they had di- 



A SHOOTING MATCH. 175 

viding their prizes, or, rather, making exchanges, 
when not entirely satisfied with what they had drawn! 
Every one went home as tired as could be, but full 
of enthusiasm over Earle's ** Shooting Match." 



A PEANUT PARTY; 



I 



If you want to please your little folks very much let 
them invite their friends to a peanut party. In send- 
ing out the invitations, be sure to say that fine cloth- 
ing is not to be worn. 

When the little guests arrive start them on a pea- 
nut hunt, for which you must have made provision 
during the day. Give each a little basket, or, if you 
do not care to purchase so many baskets, make little 
silk bags, with draw strings, or common pasteboard 
boxes may be used. 

The peanuts must be secreted about the rooms be- 
fore the children arrive, tucking one wherever you 
can find space for it, but first put away any articles of 
bric-a-brac that they might injure. It is better to do 
this than to worry yourself and the children. Let 
them hunt the peanuts as long as it amuses them, and 
tell them they are to be counted afterward to see who ) 
has found the most. Do not give prizes, for some 
little one will then be made unhappy, but find some- 
thing nice for the victor to do. 

To prevent the children from eating more of the 
peanuts than is good for them, encourage them to put 

176 



m 



A PEANUT PARTY. 177 

the bags or boxes away with their wraps, so that 
they will have them to take home. Then bring in a 
small tub of clear water, pour a handful of peanuts 
into it and set them to "bobbing" for peanuts; that 
is, trying to catch them in their mouths without the 
aid of their hands. 

Next suspend a few peanuts by means of threads 
fastened in the doorway, and let the children try to 
catch them in their mouths while passing through 
the doorway. 

When they tire of this, let them stand in two rows 
and have a saucer of peanuts at the head of each row 
and an empty saucer at the foot. The peanuts are to 
be taken from the saucer one at a time and passed 
down the rows to be deposited in the empty saucers 
At the foot. Each child must take the peanut and 
hand it to his neighbor. The side that first succeeds 
in getting the peanuts from one saucer into the other 
is declared the winning side. 

Suspend a small paper bag of peanuts from the 
doorway, then, blindfolding the children one at a 
time, give them a cane and let them pass through the 
door, trying to hit the bag of peanut^ as they do so. 
Each child should make three attempts, then give 
his place to another. ! 

When one bag has burst, let the cMldren scramble 
for the nuts; then hang up another bb,g. 

The refreshments served at this entertainment 
should be exceedingly simple or some little guest may 
go home sick, but even this will not prevent all from 
declaring that they've had "an awfully good time." 



A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT. 



Last year the mistress of a certain pleasant home 
gave a Christmas entertainment so satisfactory to all 
present that it is thought a description of it may 
please some of our readers. 

The notes of invitation announced that Mr. and 
Mrs. Santa Claus would receive a few friends on 
Christmas Eve in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blank, 
and that the recipient of these notes were expected to 
bring their entire families. Only as many families 
were invited as could be nicely accommodated. The 
mammas were given to understand that gifts were to 
be distributed during the evening, and so managed 
to send various mysterious parcels to the home of the 
Blanks during the day without the knowledge of the 
younger members of the family. 

A young lady and gentleman from an adjoining city 
personated Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. They were 
strangers to all, and were paid by the host and host- 
ess to come and entertain their guests. They were 
pupils in a well-known school of music and oratory, 
were glad to test their powers, and gave their services 
at a reasonable rate. It added greatly to ihe enjoy- 

178 



A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT. 17^ 

ment of the guests not to be able to discover the iden- 
tity of the distinguished host and hostess. Their cos- 
tumes had been prepared for the occasion, and were 
in no way disappointing to the children, whose ideas 
of the personal appearance of these worthies had been 
gained from pictures and nursery tales. 

A platform at .one end of the large sitting-room was 
covered with white Canton flannel and fur rags and 
strewn with bits of evergreen. On it were placed two 
large easy chairs, covered with scarlet draperies 
decked with a plentiful supply of gold tinsel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Santa Claus stood on this platform to re- 
ceive their guests. When the last one arrived, Mrs. 
Santa Claus seated herself, while her liege lord told 
of the beauties of Christmas Land, where stood their 
ancestral home. He was continually interrupted by 
Mrs. Santa Claus, who was quite sure he was forget- 
ting the most important parts, and who was so anx- 
ious to supply them, that she talked at an amazing 
rate of speed, which never failed to set the audience 
into convulsions of laughter. 

Mr. Santa Claus had a rich baritone voice, and 
whenever he would sing one of the songs that, of 
course, were familiar to residents of Christmas Land, 
Mrs. Santa Claus was sure to follow with one that 
she considered far more characteristic and better 
worth hearing; then Mr. Santa Claus would sit down, 
resignedly, and look tired, while she sang a song as 
comical as his had been beautiful. Mr. Santa Claus 
told of an entertainment held in Christmas Land on 
the Fourth of July, when the doll trees, popcorn 



180 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

bushes and candy vines were just beginning to bloom, 
and he repeated a selection from "Hiawatha" that 
had been given by Mr. Howling Northwind. This was 
immediately followed by a recitation by Mrs. Santa 
Glaus, which purported to be quoted verbatim from a 
speech by Mme. Ruffleneck Bald Eagle, the noted fe- 
male suffragist of the Bird Kingdom. 

When the quarrelsome couple had talked and sung 
themselves nearly hoarse, the door was suddenly 
opened and in walked the strangest-looking animal 
that could be imagined, drawing a sled piled high 
with parcels. The steed in question was an immense 
St. Bernard dog, covered with a tight-fitting coat of 
black Canton flannel, liberally sprinkled with dia- 
mond dust and ornamented with glittering tinsel. 
Tiny bells were fastened all over him, a string of 
them being wound around each leg. Covering his 
head and face was a mask resembling the head of 
some fierce beast of prey, topped off with one ugly 
looking horn, standing upright between the two 
sharply pointed ears. Great, red eyes, placed just 
above the eyes of the dog, drew the attention away 
from the holes in the mask through which the dog 
looked. The greater part of this mask was made of 
fine wire gauze, and was not as heavy as it would 
appear by the description. One would need to be very 
observing, indeed, to guess that this strange animal 
was a dog. The children clung to their parents for 
safety, but gazed with delightful fascination at the 
horrible beast. 

"This is our dear rhinylopardephant," said Mr. 



A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT. 181 

Santa Glaus, stroking the ugly head. "All our rein- 
deer are on the road to-night, so he came with us." 
Then followed wonderful stories of the ability and 
marvelous achievements of the ''rhinylopardephant" 
that filled the children with an ecstasy of delight. As 
Mr. Santa Glaus finished his story, he unhitched his 
steed from the sled, led him from the room and then 
distributed the parcels on the sled. He read the name 
of the recipient, who was obliged to come to him and 
get his gift. When all had been distributed, Mrs. 
Santa Glaus jumped from her seat and informed the 
guests that the best was yet to come. She said she 
had brought along some seed cakes, tarts, sandwiches 
and other goodies which she had made only that day, 
and she was convinced the guests would like them 
better than anything that had been given them by 
Mr. Santa Glaus. 

Small tables were brought in and scattered about 
the room, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Glaus passed the 
good things which were packed away in the sled, 
while Mr. and Mrs. Blank furnished hot coffee. While 
the guests were chatting over the refreshments, Mr. 
and Mrs. Santa Glaus quietly slipped from the room. 
Soon there was a sound of sleigh bells at the door. 
The children rushed to the windows in time to see the 
famous personages carried away in a cutter with a 
large black animal seated in front of them. "Oh," 
they cried, "Mr. and Mrs. Santa Glaus have gone, and 
we wanted to see them again." "We should all like to 
see them again," replied one of the guests, and there 
was a hearty response from all the others. 



A HURLY-BURLY. 



There will be a Hurly-Burly at the home of Keith and 
Lottie Watson, on the evening of November 12th, 1897. 
You are cordially invited to be present. 

"What is a Hurly-Burly?" asked the recipients of 
these invitations, finally deciding that Keith and Lot- 
tie did not know themselves, but had used the name 
simply because nothing better had suggested itself. 
Without doubt they were not far out of the way, al- 
though each decided, at the close of the evening, that 
the party given by these original young people could 
not have been more appropriately named. 

First they played an old-fashioned game sometimes 
called "clumps." Sides were chosen, as for a spelling 
bee, and then the two leaders left the room to decide 
upon some object that the others were to guess. They 
selected a pearl scarf-pin worn by Lottie, then re- 
turned to the room, and each took places on the oppo- 
site side. The questions were asked of them by the 
opposition. In this case they did not ask the quest- 
ions in turn, as is sometimes done, but each side gath- 
ered around the leader from the opposite side, asking 
him questions without regard to what was being done 

182 



A HURLY-BURLY. 183 

Hy the other side. It was funny to see two excited 
groups of young people, each so interested in them- 
selves that they seemed to have no knowledge of each 
other. The task was to guess the object chosen before 
the other side guessed it, for the one who discovered 
it first gained both leaders. Only such questions 
could be asked as might be answered by yes or no. 
For instance, they could not ask **What color is it?" 
but could ask, "Is it blue?" When one side had suc- 
ceeded in guessing the object decided upon they 
shouted "clumps," and their own leader came back 
to his party, the other, of course, remaining also. Two 
other leaders were then sent out to select an object, 
one from each side, and so the game continued until 
one side had won over all the members of the other 
Bide. 

When the company is large it is better to call the 
game ended when a certain number has been drawn 
from one side to the other; what number should be 
decided at the beginning of the game. It takes an 
entire evening to get all the members from one side 
to the other in a large company. In the case referred 
to it was decided that the game would be ended when 
one side had six members more than the other. 

Then all but one member of the party left the room. 
The one who remained placed a silver thimble on top 
of a picture frame, where it rested against a silken 
scarf, but yet was in plain sight. The rest of the 
party was then called back into the room and told 
that the silver thimble had been hidden, and that 
each was to take a seat as soon as he saw it, being 



184 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

careful that he did not point out the hiding place to 
any one else. It was amusing to see each one walk- 
ing about the room peering eagerly about, then see 
them start as they caught a glimpse of the thimble 
and walk away to a seat, trying to pretend that they 
had not seen it at all. 

I' he one who was last to see it was condemned to be 
postmaster in the next game. Sufficient chairs were 
arranged around the room for all but the postmas- 
ter. Each player took the name of a city, then the 
postmaster called out, **From Chicago to St. Paul" or 
any other combination that suited him. The players 
who represented those cities were then obliged to 
change seats, and the postmaster endeavored to get 
one of the chairs before the "visiting city'* reached 
it. The two players who were endeavoring to change 
seats often made a feint of doing so before getting 
far away, for each had the privilege of running back 
to his own place If he thought he could not reach the 
other place safely, and so much dodging back and 
forth made the game very laughable. If one of the 
players could throw a large handkerchief, provided 
for the occasion, so that it rested on the postmaster's 
head, he was then supposed to be "put to sleep," and 
must allow the players to change places without at- 
tempting to take either chair. He then called out 
two more cities, and tried again. 

This game was played for nearly an hour without 
becoming tiresome to the young people; then refresh- 
ments were served. 

The latter part of the evening was spent in acting 



A HURLY-BURLY. 185 

proverbs. The party was divided into two companies, 
who took turns in going into another room, where 
the proverb to be acted was agreed upon; then they 
returned and acted it before the remaining party, who 
must guess it. 

For instance, one company came in as a baseball 
nine, with a knotted towel for the ball and a tennis 
racket for the bat. There were coachers and an um- 
pire, and every one else needed to make the game 
realistic. They played a few moments, then quietly 
took their seats, inviting the "opposition" to guess 
their proverb. It was fully ten minutes before a 
bright girl chanced to study the pitcher, who was 
small for his age, and had rather large ears. 

"Little pitchers have large ears!" she exclaimed, 
triumphantly, and the pitcher laughed with the rest, 
for he had planned the act himself. 

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," was 
acted by a part of the company, calling themselves 
the "Marvellous Investment Company," who tried to 
induce others to do different things, by offering vast 
sums of money to be paid after the work was done, 
but in every case the parties pretending to be in 
search of employment replied that they would do it 
for half the sum mentioned, but it must be paid in 
advance. 

"Rolling stones gather no moss" was also enacted 
without a word of the proverb being repeated. Sev- 
eral players represented officers employed by the As- 
sociated Charities, while the others came in singly 
or in couples to ask for help. When questioned, it 



186 MODERN ENTERTAINMENTS. 

always transpired that they had done a great deal of 
traveling from place to place, or had made many 
changes of occupation. 

It is not hard to act proverbs, and there can be no 
pleasanter way of spending an evening. 

The friends who attended the hurly-burly given by 
Keith and Lottie had no fault to find with the enter- 
tainment provided. 

THE END. 



LEJe'lO 



3lv77-3 



